BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - There is still no agreement reached in the ongoing labor negotiations between the nurse's union at Mercy Hospital and Catholic Health.
In a Tuesday afternoon update, Catholic Health CEO Mark Sullivan said some workers have privately said they want the strike to end but fear backlash if they speak out publicly. He also warned the ongoing strike will hurt their ability to recruit workers to address the ongoing staffing crisis.
“We want to work with our associates side by side," Catholic Health CEO Mark Sullivan said. "We want our associates back here at Mercy, and we want to build on what we’ve established.”
The strike started October 1. CWA Local 1133, the union representing more than 2,000 employees at Mercy, have fought for an increase in wages, resources, and they also are seeking an increase in staffing levels at the hospital.
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CWA leadership was quick to respond Tuesday.
District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor said, “It’s disheartening to hear Catholic Health is considering taking away the healthcare benefits of its frontline workers who got Buffalo through the pandemic, but I want to remind our members that through CWA’s relief fund, anyone with chronic conditions in need of care or those facing health emergencies will be taken care of.
The union also released a television commercial that began airing on local tv stations. “Nobody’s healthcare should suffer because their hospital refuses to hire enough staff, or won’t provide workers with enough supplies, but that’s exactly what Catholic Health has been doing for years,” workers state in the ad which can be viewed below.