Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Unions representing healthcare workers at Kaleida Health have agreed to a second contract extension through June 24.
A three-year labor deal with 1199SEIU and CWA expired back on May 31. It was extended until June 14, and then over the weekend, a 10-day extension was agreed to by both sides.
"We're still working at the bargaining table, and that's always good," CWA Upstate Director Debbie Hayes told WBEN.
Staffing is the No. 1 issue in this latest round of negotiations.
Hayes says there is a longstanding collective bargaining relationship with Kaleida and, for the most part, negotiations have been civil. But over the last couple of weeks, they have become more contentious as the issues are becoming harder to resolve.
"Staffing is the No. 1 issue that affects our members. We cannot move backwards on the progress we have made. We have to move forward," she explained.
What will happen after June 24 when the extension expires?
"There is always a possibility that there could be a strike," Hayes said. "In healthcare, we try not to go there because of the impact it has on our patients and the community. But there is a reason that we didn't do a long term extension. We don't want to drag this out. We want to get to an agreement. But if we can't reach an agreement, then we have to be thinking about next steps."
Morale among Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, technical employees, clinicians and others has taken a hit according to Hayes.
"Staffing particularly on the night shift is difficult and we have a lot of younger nurses that end up on nights. I would say morale is kind of tough right now," he said.
The contract covers about 8,000 RNs, LPNs, Clinicians, technical employees, service and maintenance workers at Buffalo General, Oishei Children's Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, HighPointe on Michigan, Degraff Medical Park and various other clinics.
Bargaining resumed Monday morning.