Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Nearly two full weeks into the Strike at Mercy Hospital, and the New York State Attorney General is calling out the company providing temporary workers. State Attorney General Tish James says she's issued a cease and desist letter to Huffmaster, one of the companies staffing Mercy Hospital during the nurses strike.
James' cease and desist letter to Huffmaster relates to the company providing security, saying they are violating state law because they are not licensed for security in New York State, and acting simultaneously as an employment agency and as a security company.
"I continue to stand in solidarity with the CWA members on strike, and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure Huffmaster ceases their operations at Mercy Hospital as an employment, watch, guard, or patrol agency, and stops all interference with picketers,” James said, in a statement.
In response, Catholic Health released a statement ensuring patients that Registered nurses and other temporary replacement workers requiring clinical license at Mercy Hospital are all properly credentialed to work in New York State.
"The New York State Health Department has visited Mercy Hospital several times during the strike and has found the care and service to be in compliance with state regulations," read a statement from Catholic Health. "Huffmaster Companies is in contact with the Attorney General’s office to address their questions."
Related
The CWA's strike against Mercy is in its 13th day.