(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East-represented Catholic Health Employees at two nursing homes in Buffalo and Kenmore held informational pickets this week to draw attention to their labor dispute. 

The Caregivers picketed in front of Catholic Health’s St. Catherine’s Laboure on Main Street in Buffalo over a lack of childcare benefits to retain and recruit Workers, among other issues. 

Bargaining for nearly 200 Workers at Catholic Health’s McAuley Residence in Kenmore and St. Catherine’s Laboure Health Care Center in Buffalo began in May and have continued over the last several months with both sides agreeing to one extension, that has since expired. 

The Caregivers have been working without a contract since July 30th.    

Talks are set to resume on Friday (October 2nd).

Employees at the McCauley Residence work as Certified Nurse Assistants, Unit Clerks, Activity Aides, Dietary Aides, Housekeeping Aides and in the Maintenance Department.

Caregivers at St. Catherine’s Laboure work as Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants and Unit Clerks.

The Workers are prioritizing staffing and competitive benefits and wages that include the 1199 SEIU Childcare Fund to help recruit and retain more Workers to care for residents. 

The 1199 SEIU Members are demanding Catholic Health agree to the 1199 SEIU Childcare Fund in this round of negotiations, as access to affordable and nearby childcare is viewed as a barrier to recruit and retain many who are employed in the Health Care Industry.

Catholic Health’s response has been that they are hoping to invest in and build a Childcare Center in South Buffalo in the future, miles away from both Nursing Homes, and with an anticipated 10 spots in total for all Catholic Health Workers across the system, Union Officials said. 

In contrast, the 1199 SEIU Childcare Fund would have immediate impact on lessening the financial burden of childcare for the Workers, offering programs for children ages birth to college, they added.

“We also need Childcare Fund for the people who have littles ones at home and need help now,” said Alita Brooks, a Certified Nursing Assistant who walked the picket line after completing her workday. 

Activities Aide Bonnie Clausen added: “I am near retirement and after (19) years I still care about what happens to my Co-Workers. I wish I could have had access to the 1199 SEIU Childcare Fund when raising my children. We are hoping for an excellent contract so people will want to come and work for (Catholic Health) again.”

Catholic Health Nursing Home Workers are fighting for similar benefits won by their counterparts last Summer.

Four area Nursing Homes in Western New York, a major Hospital and University System in Rochester all provide this affordable life-enhancing benefit to Unionized Workers and their families, 1199 SEIU Representatives said. 

In addition, the Workers say that demand for outsourced Workers from the Float Pool raise concerns over continuity of care for residents.

Float Pool Workers are not routinely scheduled at these homes and are often offered up to an additional $11 per hour in addition to their inflated wages, Union Officials said.

Catholic Health has increasingly relied on Float Pool Staff over Regular Staff caring for residents due to the lack of competitive wages and benefits offered to Regular Staff currently, they added.   

As talks between the two sides stalled over staffing, childcare benefits and competitive wages over recent weeks, the Workers have taken their demands right to their boss.

Dozens of Workers flooded the hallways over the weekend at each Nursing Home to read off their list of demands for a fair contract to management, explaining why Workers need benefits and wages to improve staffing in order to protect quality care.

“We work very hard and Catholic Health is offering less than what we deserve. I put in a lot of hours, the least they could do is help us take care of our family,” said Geneva Bolden, a Certified Nurse Assistant employed at the McAuley Residence.

“A job should lift Workers out of poverty, not keep them there,” added Teresa Ward, a Certified Nurse Assistant employed at the St. Catherine’s Laboure Health Care Center.

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East - the largest and fastest-growing Health Care Union in America and whose mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all, represents more than 400,000 Nurses and Caregivers throughout the States of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida and in Washington, D.C. and Florida.

1199 SEIU-Provided Photo.