Ethan Walker
In 2021, over 2,000 workers at Catholic Health Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, went on strike over staffing issues, low pay, and poor working conditions. The strike lasted five weeks and ended after Catholic Health and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union reached a tentative agreement to improve staffing and provide wage increases. While the strike is reported to have ended, it is unclear if the issues have been fully resolved, and it is possible that further labor disputes may arise in the healthcare industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of workers on strike | 2,000 |
| Type of workers | Nurses, technologists, clerical staff, aides, and other service workers |
| Hospital | Catholic Health Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, New York |
| Reason for strike | Failure to reach a deal on a new contract, including minimum staffing ratios and salary |
| Length of strike | 5 weeks |
| Outcome | Catholic Health and the union reached a tentative agreement to end the strike, including wage increases and staffing promises |
| Union | Communications Workers of America (CWA) |
| Union demands | Improved working conditions, increased staffing, and better pay |
| Catholic Health response | Optimistic that a deal will be reached, calling on the community to tell the union to end the strike |
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What You'll Learn
Staffing issues and patient care
The main issue cited by the union was the need for improved staffing levels to ensure safe patient care and address widespread burnout and nursing shortages. The union had been raising concerns about staffing levels for some time, with a 2016 contract promising improvements, but the management failed to address the issue satisfactorily. The hospital, meanwhile, claimed to have made a "fair and competitive" offer, including additional wages and benefits, and plans to hire more staff.
The strike caused significant disruption to the hospital's operations, with emergency departments and other Catholic Health hospitals overflowing. It also impacted other area hospitals and emergency rooms. To mitigate the impact on patient care, the hospital implemented a strike contingency plan, which included bringing in contract labor from a temporary staffing service. However, this agency, Huffmaster, received a cease-and-desist order from the New York State Attorney General due to licensing issues and interference with the right to protest.
After five weeks, the strike ended when Catholic Health and the union reached a tentative agreement that addressed staffing concerns. The agreement included plans to add 250 new positions and reallocate staffing resources to achieve the staffing numbers sought by the union. The union hailed the contract as "groundbreaking," with "historic breakthroughs in safe staffing."
While the strike caused temporary disruptions, Catholic labor advocates and medical ethicists argue that strikes in healthcare are announced in advance, allowing time for alternative plans to be made. Furthermore, the workers' devotion to providing care means that patient harm is not a central goal of strikes, and hospitals typically prepare for strikes to minimize the impact on patients.
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Contract negotiations
In 2021, more than 2,000 nurses, technologists, clerical staff, aides, and other service workers at Catholic Health Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, went on strike. The workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, were unable to reach an agreement with the hospital on a new contract, with key issues including minimum staffing ratios and wages remaining unresolved.
The strike was open-ended, with no set end date, and it caused significant disruption to the hospital and the wider community. Catholic Health implemented its strike contingency plan, which included bringing in contract labor from a temporary staffing service. However, the New York State Health Department found that the care and service provided during the strike were in compliance with state regulations.
Catholic Health leaders expressed optimism that a deal would be reached, and they called on the community to urge the union to end the strike. They argued that they had tried to address staffing issues and that the strike was unnecessary. In response, the union stated that management had failed to uphold the terms of the previous contract related to staffing and that the strike was a last resort due to concerns about patient care, supply shortages, long shifts, and poor working conditions.
After five weeks, Catholic Health and the CWA reached a tentative agreement to end the strike. The agreement included wage increases and promises to address staffing shortages. The new contracts covered approximately 2,500 employees across three Catholic Health hospitals, and the CWA agreed to end the strike immediately and resume patient care.
While the strike caused disruption, Catholic labor advocates and medical ethicists emphasize that strikes in the healthcare industry are announced in advance, allowing time for alternative plans to be made. Additionally, they highlight that healthcare workers are devoted to providing care and that their strikes often aim to improve patient care and working conditions.
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Union involvement
In 2021, over 2,000 workers at Catholic Health Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, went on strike. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union represented the workers, who included nurses, technologists, clerical staff, and other service workers. The strike was in response to a dispute over a new employment contract, with key issues including minimum staffing ratios, salary, and staffing proposals remaining unresolved.
The CWA authorized an open-ended strike, pledging to support the workers for as long as they were on the picket line. The union stated that the management of Catholic Health failed to live up to the terms of the 2016 contract regarding staffing language. They also highlighted the need for hundreds" of new hires at the hospital, citing high turnover, short staffing, insufficient supplies, and low pay as reasons for the strike.
In response, Catholic Health implemented its strike contingency plan, which included bringing in contract labor from a temporary staffing service. However, the New York State Attorney General issued a cease-and-desist order to the staffing agency, Huffmaster, due to licensing issues and interference with the right to protest.
After five weeks, Catholic Health and the CWA reached a tentative agreement to end the strike. The agreement included wage increases and staffing promises, and the CWA agreed to end the strike immediately and resume patient care. The new contracts were to be uniform across three Catholic Health hospitals, with no changes to workers' pension plans and the current cost-sharing of healthcare benefits.
While the strike raised concerns about negative effects on patient care, Catholic labor advocates and medical ethicists emphasized that strikes in the healthcare industry are announced ahead of time, allowing alternative plans to be made. Additionally, they highlighted that the workers devoted their lives to providing care and that strikes in healthcare aim to improve patient care systems. The largest health care workers' strike in U.S. history ended in 2023, and more labor disputes in the industry are expected.
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Worker demands
In September 2021, 2,500 nurses, technologists, clerical staff, and other service workers planned to go on strike on October 1 if a new contract could not be agreed upon with Catholic Health System. The existing contract was due to expire on September 30, and 97% of union members voted in favour of strike action. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union outlined that its members were seeking improvements in staffing ratios, threats to patient care, supply shortages, high turnover, and low pay.
Cheryl Darling, an immediate treatment assistant at the hospital, said: "Going on strike was a last resort, but when you witness patients waiting hours for food and medicine, suffering sitting in soiled clothes and falling desperately trying to get to the bathroom on their own, there was no other option."
A letter from 25 elected officials from the Buffalo region to hospital management expressed concerns that the hospital's operations had not recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, with workers stretched to their breaking points. The letter also highlighted a crisis of leadership, with staff concerns not being taken seriously, and hundreds of staff positions left unfilled.
On October 12, 2021, over 2,000 workers began an open-ended strike after negotiations failed to produce a new contract. While the two sides were close to an agreement on pandemic preparedness and extended sick leave pay, significant differences remained on salary and staffing levels.
Catholic Health offered a compromise to reallocate staffing resources to achieve the CWA's staffing targets, and after five weeks, a tentative agreement was reached between Catholic Health and the CWA. The agreement included uniform contracts across three Catholic Health hospitals, with wage increases, no changes to pension plans, and the current cost-sharing of healthcare benefits.
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Impact on other hospitals
In October 2021, over 2,000 nurses, technologists, clerical staff, aides, and other service workers at Catholic Health Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, went on an open-ended strike. The workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, were unable to reach an agreement with the hospital management on a new employment contract, with key issues such as minimum staffing ratios and wage increases remaining unresolved.
The strike had a significant impact on other hospitals in the area. Emergency departments and other Catholic Health hospitals, as well as Kaleida Health and ECMC, were reported to be overflowing due to the strike. The strike also strained local hospitals and emergency rooms, as they struggled to accommodate the increased demand for services.
To manage the situation, hospitals typically implement contingency plans, such as hiring temporary staff or travel nurses. However, this can be challenging, especially during a strike when resources and staff may already be stretched thin. In the case of the Catholic Health strike, the hospital had a strike contingency plan that included bringing in contract labor. They also engaged the services of Huffmaster, a temporary staffing agency specializing in rapid strike staffing. However, Huffmaster received a cease-and-desist order from the New York State Attorney General due to licensing issues and allegations of interfering with the striking workers' right to protest.
The strike by Catholic Health workers in New York lasted for about five weeks before a tentative agreement was reached between the union and the hospital. The agreement included wage increases and staffing promises, addressing the concerns raised by the workers.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Catholic Health reached an agreement with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union to end the strike on November 5, 2021.
The strike began due to a dispute between Catholic Health and the CWA over staffing issues, wages, and working conditions.
Approximately 2,000 workers participated in the strike, including nurses, technologists, clerical staff, and other service workers.
The strike lasted for five weeks, beginning on October 1, 2021, and ending on November 5, 2021.
The strike affected Catholic Health Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, and caused strain on other local hospitals and emergency rooms. It also prompted a response from a Michigan-based temporary staffing service, Huffmaster, which received a cease-and-desist order from the New York State Attorney General for interfering with the striking workers' right to protest.
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