(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) is voicing concern over “essential Front-Line Caregivers who care for patients and keep the Hospital running” after Buffalo’s Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) announced a 3% workforce reduction that equates to 150 Employees.

The layoffs/furloughs at ECMC are mostly in non-clinical areas, Hospital Officials said, adding all Non-Union Hospital Employees will also take a one-week furlough during 2026. ECMC said the reductions took place to “meet patient demands and our financial realities" as it cited "inadequate reimbursements" from public and private payers, including reduced reimbursements from Medicaid cuts, as one of the reasons for the staffing reductions. The Hospital also said inflation and other financial challenges fueled its decision.

NYSNA subsequently released the following statement: The New York State Nurses Association is deeply concerned about the layoffs at the Erie County Medical Center, including layoffs of Front-Line Nurses and other Staff. In the midst of Federal attacks on health care, our Hospitals, including ECMC, should be looking for ways to protect safe, quality patient care for Western New Yorkers. Cuts to Front-Line Staff will only diminish care for our patients in Buffalo and beyond who depend on ECMC, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region. NYSNA is in solidarity with all Workers impacted by these layoffs.

Registered Nurse (RN) Crystal Knihinicki, a NYSNA Member at ECMC, said: "Nurses are disappointed in the Erie County Medical Center's decision to lay off Workers, including several Senior Nurses with decades of experience at the bedside and Nurse Educators who provide training to Staff across the Hospital. The people of Buffalo and the surrounding communities rely heavily on ECMC for access to safe, quality patient care. If Hospital Executives need to cut costs, they should cut executive salaries and administrative expenses - not the essential Front-Line Caregivers who care for patients and keep the hospital running. Nurses will push back on any threat to patient care, including the layoffs of Front-Line Health Care Workers." 

NYSNA represents more than 42,000 Members across New York and is the State’s largest Union and Professional Association for RNs.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association Of RNs, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: ECMC announces layoffs, furloughs for 2026 | Buffalo Toronto Public Media