Debbie Hayes organized her fellow nurses at Buffalo General Hospital in 1982 with the assistance of CWA Local 1122, a telephone workers’ local. She was elected president of her Local 1168 and led a successful 80 day strike to win a good contract. Hayes went on to lead organizing drives and strikes at other hospitals and health care facilities in her hometown of Buffalo. During merger negotiations that formed the Kaleida Health System she negotiated a majority sign-up (card check)/neutrality agreement leading to further organizing successes. Under her leadership, almost 7,000 health care workers joined CWA. Hayes served as CWA staff representative for many years, including the challenging years of the Covid-19 epidemic. In 2021, she finally won legislation in the New York state legislature mandating nurse staffing ratios.
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