CWA Fights Hospital Closings in Western New York

Nearly 400 CWA members rallied in front of St. Joseph's Hospital in Cheektowaga, N.Y., on Nov. 30 to fight a state commission's recommendation to close at least three major hospitals in the Buffalo area.

"There are almost 4,000 CWA members at risk," said Local 1168 President John Klein. If the commission's recommendations go forward, "they will create a situation of chaos for health care in Western New York."

Though their members are not directly affected by the closings, CWA Locals 1133 and 1122, which also represent health care workers, lent support to the rally along with other CWA locals in the region.

"The turnout was really fantastic for only two days of work; it was less than 48 hours after the announcement," Klein said.

He was referring to the release on Nov. 28 of a long-awaited report by the state Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century. The commission recommended closing nine hospitals across the state, including at least three in the Buffalo area: St. Joseph's, operated by the Catholic Health System, and Millard Fillmore and DeGraff, both Kaleida facilities. Two other facilities employing CWA members may be merged in some fashion, Klein said.

The Legislature has until Dec. 31 to reject the commission's recommendations. If no vote is taken, Klein said, the report will automatically be adopted. Catholic Health has already sued the commission and Kaleida also has promised to fight the closings.

Other CWA rallies are scheduled at Millard Fillmore and DeGraff. The local is circulating petitions and encouraging people to write their legislators and, Klein said, next week the union will provide cell phones or laptops for hospital employees to contact legislators on their way to and from work.

CWA's message to the community is that the closings will jeopardize health care in the region and be a special burden for elderly patients who would have to travel greater distances to receive treatment. 

"I have a love for this facility and for this community because I grew up" here, Sharon Lopacki, an RN at DeGraff, told the Buffalo News. Lopacki was born at DeGraff, gave birth there and has worked at the facility for 32 years. "I have patients who look forward to seeing me. They keep coming back," she said.