Hospital workers strike over staffing shortage

Nearly 2000 employees at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York walked off their jobs on Friday due to the ongoing staffing crisis in the country. The staffing shortage crisis has made it impossible to provide adequate care to patients. The union representing the workers Communications Workers of America commented that the poor working conditions in the hospital are putting patients' safety at risk and the situation has been worsened by the rising Delta variant cases. Linda Bain, a registered nurse at the hospital said, "It is our mission to provide care to our patients and walking off the job is now the only option to force Catholic Health to listen." 

The frontline workers went on strike after their contracts expired on Thursday. Negotiations between the Catholic Health System and CWA are expected to go on till the weekend. On Wednesday, the hospital also suspended inpatient non-emergency services as well as labor and delivery services in expectation of the walkout. The union demands the hospital to maintain minimum staffing levels and wants to reach an agreement on six contracts that cover around 2,500 employees at Mercy Hospital- Buffalo, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Sisters of Charity hospital. Meanwhile, in nearby Saint Vincent Hospital at Vincent, Massachusetts, a 7-month long protest continues with more than 500 workers are on strike over the staffing shortage and patient care conditions. 

Source: CBS News