(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – A new four-year contract covering more than 2,800 Members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Locals 1133 and 1168 at area Catholic Health Facilities has been ratified, Local 1133 President Brian Magner tells WNYLaborToday.com.

The contract came not too soon after the Locals announced during the first week of September that Membership had “overwhelmingly voted to authorize” a Strike if Catholic Health failed to address competitive wages, benefits and safe staffing in a new deal (For More, Read: CWA-Represented Local 1133 & 1168 Mercy Hospital Workers ‘Overwhelmingly Vote To Authorize’ A Strike ‘If’ Catholic Health ‘Fails To Address Safe Staffing, Competitive Wages & Benefits’ In New Contract - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York)

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.

“Our Members ‘did a great job’ and ‘I hope their involvement continues year-round as we continue to build a very strong’ Union,” Magner said. “While ‘there is no such thing as a perfect’ contract, the feedback I got (from Membership) ‘is that we did pretty well.’ In fact, I had one long-time Member ‘tell me it was the best contract they ever had’ (at Catholic Health).”

The agreement, which is retroactive to June 30th (2025) and runs until June 30th, 2029, includes 3% wage increases in years two, three and four of the contract after Catholic Health agreed to raise wages to a level that were “compatible” to those Health Care Workers employed at the Kaleida Health System in Buffalo, where CWA Members also work, Magner said.

The “biggest issue” in bargaining, however, was safe staffing, CWA Representatives said, and while adding more Staff can begin to solve getting the Nurse-to-Patient ratio down, Magner said Catholic Health agreed to arbitration language in the contract that if staffing levels are not met, financial penalties would be assessed and that money would eventually go into the pockets of Members who are working additional time.

A premium increase was also agreed to when it comes to CWA-represented Caregivers picking up additional shifts.

“It’s a ‘pretty significant’ amount,” Magner said. “If they’re asking people to do so ‘they have to pay people (a fair increase) for them to pick up an additional shift.’”

While the overall wage increases vary, Magner said a Nurse will see their hourly rate increase from $14 to $21 and a Member in the Technical Unit have their pay rise from $11 to $16.

In the areas of health benefits and pension, all remains the same and were unchanged, he said.

“We thought pensions ‘would be a fight, but we were happy with (Catholic Health’s) stance on that,’” Magner said.

The CWA also thanked the many area Unions and a host of Elected Officials who stood with the CWA in their fight for a new contract, including many who attended and spoke at a news conference that was held outside the hospital on September 2nd (For More, Read: 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)

“The support ‘was fantastic,’” Magner said.

Meanwhile, contract negotiations are continuing for Members in a new CWA Unit at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.

Once finalized and ratified, that agreement will become part of the Master Catholic Health Agreement.

“We’re still at the table on some side issues,” Magner said.