Contact: Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | (646) 853-4489
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TODAY, SEPT. 22 at 11:30 A.M.**
NYSNA Nurses to Speak Out for Safe Staffing and a Fair Contract at Erie County Medical Center
Buffalo, NY– Members of the New York State Nurses Association at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) will speak out outside the hospital on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 11:30 a.m. The speak-out comes as NYSNA nurses and healthcare professionals at Western New York’s largest hospital kick off contract negotiations with the hospital.
Bargaining with the more than 1,300 nurses at ECMC comes on the heels of contract negotiations at Kaleida Health, the largest healthcare system in Western New York, where fellow union healthcare professionals recently voted to authorize a strike. Both ECMC and Kaleida healthcare professionals are facing similar workplace issues, such as understaffing and a failure to recruit and retain enough nurses for safe patient care.
Nurses at Erie County Medical Center join the over 30,000 NYSNA members who will be bargaining contracts for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the largest hospital and the only public hospital in the Buffalo area, ECMC is the backbone of healthcare for the region. NYSNA nurses at ECMC are bargaining for improved patient care for the community, including safe staffing and better working conditions to recruit and retain nurses.
WHO: Nurses, healthcare professionals and other labor, elected and community supporters, including Buffalo Central Labor Council, CWA Local 1168 and Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace.
WHERE: Erie County Medical Center, In front of the hospital at 462 Grider St, Buffalo, NY 14215
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 22
TIME: 11:30 a.m.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Nurses will speak out about current hospital conditions and their goals for a new fair contract. Members will be available for individual interviews.
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The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, visit nysna.org.
