(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Forty-one Clinical Engineering Workers employed at Kaleida Health in Buffalo have Gone Union, voting to be represented by Communication Workers Of America (CWA) Local 1168, it was announced.

CWA already represents more than 4,000 Workers employed across the Kaleida Health System.

It took the Clinical Engineers several months to join Local 1168 and the newest Members of the CWA stayed strong throughout the effort - even through delays in the election that were caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, and what was described as an Anti-Union Campaign, which included the unjust termination of an Organizing Committee Member just days before the election, CWA Local 1168 Officials said.

By a final tally of 23-to-15, Local 1168 won an National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)-supervised election to represent the Kaleida Clinical Engineering Workers, who are employed at a number of Buffalo area locations, said Patrick Weisansal II, CWA Local 1168’s Director of Organizing and Mobilizing,

A representation petition by the Workers was originally filed with the NLRB in early March.

CWA Local 1168 represents more than 200 job titles at Kaleida Health’s area sites, which include: Buffalo General Medical Center; Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital; its Flint Road Labs; DeGraff Hospital, and many other Kaleida off-sites across the Buffalo Community.

Local 1168 Organizers Weisansal and Ann Converso, with the assistance of Dan Gniewicki, worked on the Unionization Campaign, alongside Lead Organizer Theresa Shaffer and District Organizing Coordinator Anne Luck-Deak, CWA Officials said.

In addition, Mary Nowocien assisted the Local’s Organizing Team during the last few weeks of the effect which led to the election.  

Support from Local 1168 Local President Cori Gambini was also described as “crucial,” by CWA Representatives.

The CWA also signed out District One Legal Counsel, Amy Young, who they said also played a vital role.