News

CHS Bargaining Update #21.2

15 Sep, 2025

This has been a busy week for all of us as we continue to work towards a contract with Catholic

Health. Here’s a summary.

- Monday, we conducted a strike authorization vote for our members at Mercy Hospital of

Buffalo. We had an excellent turnout. At the end of the night, the members at Mercy

voted by a 90% margin, to give the bargaining committee the authority to call for a strike

if needed. The big question, “What’s next?”

- Representatives of the bargaining committee, notified Catholic Health that:

The Union was not going to extend the contract when it expires at midnight tonight (Friday).
The Union is setting a 2-week deadline to get the contract negotiated. If we do not have a contract by Friday, September 26, 2025, we will decide whether we will give the 10-day notice required to strike Catholic Health and Mercy Hospital.
It is the Union’s intent to continue the work of contract negotiations in an effort to reach an agreement. While Catholic Health has not appeared willing to do the same thing, we hope they come to the table with a renewed commitment to bring bargaining to a close.

- Once the contract expires all wages, benefits and terms of employment covered by the

contract REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT. The only exception is that the arbitration step of the grievance procedure expires.