(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Health Care Workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Locals 1133 and 1168 have announced its Members who are employed at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo have voted overwhelmingly - by more than 90% - to authorize a Strike if Catholic Health refuses to agree to a fair contract.

The vote comes as negotiations drag on with little progress on the most urgent issues facing essential Hospital Staff and their patients: Safe Staffing and competitive wages and benefits.

CWA represents more than 2,800 Nurses, Service, Technical and Clerical Workers at Catholic Health’s South Buffalo Mercy Hospital, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Sisters of Charity Hospital/St. Joseph Campus in Suburban Cheektowaga.

Mercy Hospital and its affiliated offsite locations are the only facility where Workers can legally Strike under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, but all three hospitals are at the bargaining table.

CWA Local 1133 President Brian Magner said: “We have been crystal clear - without competitive wages and benefits and language to enforce the staffing ratios we fought so hard for in our last contract, more and more people will walk out the door. This Strike Authorization is not something we take lightly, but our Members are ready to stand up again to protect their patients and their profession if necessary.”

Unsafe staffing levels and uncompetitive pay and benefits have been major sticking points throughout negotiations, Union Officials said.

Workers point to a major Strike in 2021 - when CWA Members held the line for 40 days, as evidence of both the seriousness of their concerns and their willingness to fight for meaningful change for their patients.

Jennifer Liberti-Bemis, a Registered Nurse who works in the Mother Baby Unit at Mercy Hospital, said: “Every shift feels like a battle to care for our patients while we’re stretched far too thin. When Catholic Health doesn’t meet Safe Staffing levels, it’s not just stressful - it’s dangerous. We fought hard to win ratios in 2021 and now we’re demanding they actually follow them so we can give our patients the care they deserve.”

Service, Technical and Clerical Employees echoed those concerns, pointing to wages that have failed to keep up with rising costs of living.

“I’ve given more than a decade of service here and I still struggle to make ends meet,” said Nikole Miles, a Secretary at Mercy Hospital. “It’s hard to take care of the community when you can barely afford to live in it. All we’re asking is to be paid what our fellow Health Care Workers across town are making for doing the same work”

CWA Leaders emphasized that while the Strike vote passed by a wide margin, it does not mean workers will walk out immediately.

The Union is required to give a 10-day notice before any strike and its Members remain committed to reaching an agreement at the bargaining table if Catholic Health is willing to bargain in good faith, the CWA said.

CWA District 1 Vice President Deb Hayes said: “Our Members want to provide care to the patients in our community, not walk a picket line - but if Catholic Health continues to ignore the conditions inside its hospitals, these Workers are prepared to act.”

The CWA represents Working People in health care, telecommunications, public service, customer service, media, airlines, education, manufacturing, tech and other fields.

CWA represents roughly 15,000 Health Care Workers throughout New York.

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Should It Happen For The Second Time In Five Years, Why Would Catholic Health Spend $100 Million On Temporary Employees During A CWA Strike Instead Of Using That $$$ To Settle A New & Fair Contract Beforehand With Its Unionized Workers? - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York