Healthcare Workers Ramp Up Their Fight for a Fair Contract with Catholic Health

Healthcare workers represented by the CWA Locals 1133 and 1168 gathered on September 2nd to update the Western NY public on their ongoing contract campaign with Catholic Health, calling attention to the urgency surrounding the ongoing healthcare staffing crisis and the need for livable wages to recruit and retain staff.

CWA represents over 2,000 frontline healthcare workers across Catholic Health facilities in Buffalo, including registered nurses, technicians, environmental services, and other essential hospital staff providing critical care to the South Buffalo community.

After several months of prolonged and occasionally stalled contract negotiations, CWA Local 1133 members at Mercy Hospital, who went on strike for 40 days in 2021, are preparing for another possible work stoppage this year if a fair deal that protects workers and patients cannot be reached. On September 8th, members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if a deal cannot be reached.

"One of our biggest fights in this contract is for safe staffing," said Brian Magner, President of CWA Local 1133. "In 2021, we negotiated safe staffing ratios, which Catholic Health continues to violate. Now we are fighting for enforcement language for those staffing ratios."

Unsafe staffing levels have led to burnout, high turnover, and compromised care in facilities throughout the system. Workers say Catholic Health’s refusal to enforce agreed-upon ratios is putting both patients and staff at risk.

In addition to staffing, workers have called attention to inadequate wages that have failed to keep pace with the cost of living.

“The frontline workers at Mercy Hospital and across Catholic Health deserve better,” said NY State Senator Sean Ryan, candidate for Mayor of Buffalo. “When other local health systems have raised wages and offer stronger staffing standards, Catholic Health’s refusal to do the same puts both patients and workers at risk. No one who has dedicated 20 years of service to this community should still be making less than a living wage. It’s time for Catholic Health to come to the table with a contract that values workers, ensures safe staffing, and keeps quality care in Buffalo.”

Local 1133 members have been staging actions throughout the Western NY area over the past several weeks to increase the pressure on the hospital to come to the table prepared to bargain and get a deal done, including flyering at businesses owned by Catholic Health board members this week.

Watch news coverage of the press conference here, and the full video of the event here.