200930 NFMMC Picket 1
James Neiss/staff photographer
Niagara Falls, NY - Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Workers picket outside the hospital on Wednesday.


Begin forwarded message:

From: April Ezzell
Subject: Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Workers to picket over short staffing levels Weds from 11am-1pm
Date: September 28, 2020 at 9:37:14 AM EDT


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Friday, September 28, 2020
Contact: Allison Krause, 1199SEIU, 315-679-6032

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Workers to Hold Informational Picket on 9/30
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Essential healthcare workers say staffing levels at the hospital are critically low and demand that management provide appropriate levels of staff to ensure quality care to patients.

What: Informational Picket
Who: Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Workers
Date: Wednesday, September 30 from 11am-1pm
Location: Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
621 10th St., Niagara Falls, NY 14301

More than 700 essential healthcare workers represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center plan to hold an informational picket on Wednesday, September 30, to demand proper staffing levels in the hospital. In the last several months, caregivers have submitted 150 short staffing forms citing dangerously inadequate staffing levels throughout the hospital which could impact the quality of care provided to patients.

“We have been stripped down to the bone. Some nights I’m doing beds and taking vitals because we don’t have anyone from housekeeping on,” says 1199SEIU Delegate Evelyn Harris, who has worked at the institution for 43 years. “Not being able to give hands on care and do all I can for my patients fractures me to my soul.”

Union organizers have filed charges with the NYS Labor Board for inadequate staffing levels and inappropriate floating of staff. Chronic short staffing has resulted in Registered Nurses being re-assigned to areas of the hospital for which they do not have proper training.

“This is a clear violation of our collective bargaining agreement,” says, 1199SEIU Organizer Michele Jerge, RN. Hospital nursing management has been consistently absent from weekly meetings regarding inadequate staffing levels and grievances regarding staffing.

1199SEIU represents Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Technicians, Professionals, Service, Dietary, Maintenance and Home Health staff at the Niagara Falls facility.

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.