Statement: Catholic Health Workers Respond to Hospital System’s Baseless Claims

Union nurses and other frontline workers at Catholic Health, represented by the Communications Workers of America, issued the following statement in reaction to a baseless legal action by the hospital system. The union asserts that the action is without merit and will challenge it swiftly. 

Statement from Debora Hayes, RN and CWA Area Director:

“Despite deep staffing shortages, limited resources and a hospital system that refuses to listen to concerns about these issues, nurses and other frontline workers at Catholic Health have been sacrificing their health and well-being to get Buffalo through the pandemic. As COVID rages on, frontline workers have been speaking up about staffing shortages that are getting worse and putting patient care in jeopardy. 

Instead of working with us to settle a fair contract that will give the health system a shot at attracting and retaining the staff needed to care for patients, Catholic Health is dumping money into baseless lawsuits, bloated executive paychecks and nonessential projects. Catholic Health should stop insulting and threatening frontline workers who are risking everything for the community and start getting serious about addressing staffing issues that are putting Buffalo at risk. We want nothing more than to work with Catholic Health to solve this crisis together.”