(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – More than 1,400 Members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168 packed the Downtown Buffalo Convention Center earlier this month (May 5th) to take part in a 35-year celebration of a Union that represents a variety of Health Care Workers across Western New York.

“It was ‘quite an event.’  “(Local 1168 President) Cori Gambini gave a ‘great’ speech and we showed a twenty-minute historical video of our Union,” Local 1168 Executive Vice President Robert Andruszko told WNYLaborToday.com.  “Even though (Union Members) ‘are under fire, it’s not all gloom and doom.’  So this was an ‘opportune time’ to celebrate.  ‘We all left the celebration with our spirits lifted.’”

The CWA Local represents more than 4,500 Members who are employed at many Health Care Institutions across the region, including Sisters of Charity Hospital and the St. Joseph Campus, Kaleida Health System’s Buffalo General Medical Campus and GVI, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, the Highpoint Long Term Care Facility, the Flint Road Regional Laboratory, Absolut Care of Gasport, Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Family Pharmaceutical Services LLC, and the Millard Fillmore Surgery Center LLC.

The inception of CWA Local 1168 - which was initially known as Local Nurses United - began in the early 80s when Buffalo General Hospital (BGH) Nurses organized to join a Union.  Nurses United/CWA Local 1168 was born and immediately engaged in a Strike in order to obtain a fair contract.  The Nurses prevailed and in the end it was a big win for the Unionized Health Care Workers at BGH and ultimately lead to the growth of the Union that is now more than three decades old.

The Nurses affiliated with the CWA for its Democratic grassroots and bottom up structure that remains a basis of its structure to this day - and it is Local 1168’s Members who are considered the root of this Labor Organization’s strength and resolve.

Here is a portion of the address made by Local 1168 President Cori Gambini at the dinner:

We are here to celebrate the many struggles, more importantly, the victories that arose from these struggles.  We are here to celebrate you - each and every CWA Member here, those who could not attend and those right now who are caring for the most vulnerable people in our community - the elderly, the injured, the critically ill - our patients, the reason we do what we do every day. We are our patient’s advocate. 

In 1980, a few Registered Nurses began to meet and talk about their work at the Buffalo General Hospital.  Their demands: Gain respect from the doctors and administration; Have dignity within the workplace; Have the role of the RN acknowledged as a profession to be treated as a professional; and allow all RNs to be a true patient advocate without fear of retaliation or fear of being fired.

Over time they grew in numbers, they organized, they mobilized and 850 RNs - in a Democratic process - voted yes for a Union.  Obtaining a first contract was not easy, in fact to get that first contract there was a three-month Strike.  This act of bravery from these RNs was the foundation of this Local.  It is because of this selfless act and their strength that we are where we are today - who we are today. 

We went from 850 RNs to 4,800 strong over the last 35 years and we are much more than REGISTERED NURSES.  We have hundreds of other job titles such as Respiratory Therapists, LPNs, Clinical Lab Scientists, Pharmacists, Medical Assistants - and many more. 

The video presentation yow will watch shows many pictures that tell our story, but it does not capture everything.  We would be here for hours.  It is just the highlights.  It shows the bigger struggles and victories.  What you don’t see is the work that is done every day.  Bargaining contracts is only a part of what we do.  Every day we are working on behalf of our Members.  Enforcing the contract. 

At the same time, we are working with our employer - ensuring their success.  Our job security, wages and benefits are dependent on that. 

We work with our elected officials and sometimes against regarding legislation and policies. 

We support those that are best for our Members and for the Working People of this country. 

We support Health Care Policies that are in the best interest for our patients and in the best interest for our Health Care Workers.

One thing, without a doubt, when we mobilize with big numbers and join together with a united voice - we win. 

When we are fragmented, disorganized and only a few are fighting the cause, we lose.

When people are not paying attention, not educating themselves with the facts, fail to stand up and fight back - we lose. 

Our Members, Working People and our country lose. 

The Power of People in large numbers creates movements. 

Brothers and Sisters, today we are fighting for rights we have already won; Equal Rights; Women’s Rights; LGBTQ Rights; The Right to Organize, join a Union and the Right to engage in Collective Bargaining.

We have had difficult fights in the past, but I think our most difficult fights are in front of us. 

But remember - together we can win.