(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168-represented Health Care Workers joined with members of the Buffalo Community today (Thursday, October 9th) outside the Kaleida Health Family Planning Clinic on Main Street to demand an immediate halt to the planned closure of what they described as this vital Clinic, as well as other essential services across the Kaleida Health System.

CWA Local 1168 represents nearly 5,000 Health Care Workers across Western New York who are committed to protecting patient care, community health access and safe staffing.

Operating since 1972, the Family Planning Clinic has served generations of Buffalo Families and was originally opened as the Deaconess Family Planning Clinic on Riley near Humboldt.

With more than a century of combined Staff experience, the Clinic provides comprehensive GYN care, STI and HIV testing, contraception, HPV treatment, colposcopy and Community Health Education Programs.

Unlike other regional facilities, the Clinic accepts patients without insurance, offers evening hours and walk-in appointments, serves both Men and Women, and is easily accessed by public transportation - and its culturally inclusive care makes it a trusted provider for Buffalo’s African-American, Bengali, and African Immigrant Communities.

“These cuts ‘must be reversed,’” said CWA Local 1168’s Sarah Buckley (pictured below), who serves as the Local’s Legislative/Political Action Director. “Lives are ‘being turned upside down’ (by the Clinic’s planned closure). Our ‘main concern is in our patients, who feel like they are a number in the Health Care System while being at their most vulnerable.’ This Clinic ‘is a treasure.’ Patients have ‘come here for real care’ for more than (50) years. It is ‘irreplaceable.’ We call on Kaleida to ‘halt its closure’ and for (the Federal) Government ‘to restore’ (health care) funding.”

Denise Abbott (pictured below), CWA Local 1168’s Health and Safety Director - and the first Woman to serve as President of the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation, which represents 140 Union Locals that combine to represent (145,000) Union Members and Retirees, also spoke at the news conference: “The Trump Administration ‘is taking away health care for (17) million children and their families, but refuses to fix this problem.’ ‘It makes the outcome worse.’ Labor ‘stands in solidarity will all (and) our collective power will make it happen when (it comes to fighting) Trump’s attack on American health care.’ ‘Their fight is our fight.’”

A number of Community advocates and Elected Officials - including U.S. Congressman Tim Kennedy (pictured below speaking to CWA Local 1168 President Cori Gambini, who is dressed in black), who spoke at the news conference warned that closing the clinic during a Global STI surge and amid persistent racial disparities in maternal care will worsen health outcomes and break the trust patients have in the broader medical system.

City of Buffalo Council Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope said: “Let’s be clear - this Clinic does more than provide health care. It provides access, trust and dignity. From pregnancy testing to STI treatment, from HPV vaccines to education in our schools, this is where people - especially Black and Brown folks, Immigrants, young people and the uninsured - go when they have nowhere else to turn. You don’t shut that down. Not when we’re still fighting rising STI rates, a maternal health crisis and deep distrust in the Health Care System. We should be investing more in places like this - not closing their doors.”

New York State Senator April Baskin of Buffalo said: “In communities where access to quality care is often lacking, the threat of the Family Planning Clinic's closure is both foolish and extremely harmful to countless patients who rely on its services. For years, the Staff has worked to establish strong, culturally competent relationships with local residents regarding intimate health issues and screening tests. Further, Title X funds Staff salaries through 2026, the Family Planning Benefit Program supports uninsured patients and medication is subsidized by (340B) drug pricing, none of which falls under Kaleida's responsibility. The clinic shares space with Oishei Healthy Kids, meaning closure will not eliminate all rental costs. At a time when health care costs continue to rise, the closure of this Family Planning Clinic would be nothing short of disastrous.”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: To Watch A Video Of Today’s News Conference, Go To: CWA Press Conference - Kaleida Health Family Planning Clinic Closure

Photos Provided By CWA Local 1168.