By Jon Harris
News Business Reporter
For Western New York's hospitals, it was the perfect storm.Â
For Catholic Health, keeping Mercy Hospital open means paying vastly higher wages to replacement workers. For striking workers, each day means more lost wages.
kAmxE DE2CE65 H:E9 E96 r@G:5\`h A2?56>:4[ H9:49 @G6C E96 A2DE `g >@?E9D 92D DEC2:?65 9@DA:E2= DE277]k^Am
kAm%96?[ :? =2E6 $6AE6>36C 42>6 E96 DE2E6VD G244:?6 >2?52E6 7@C 962=E9 42C6 H@C<6CD[ H9:49 AFD965 9F?5C65D @7 6>A=@J66D E@ E96 D:56=:?6D 3642FD6 E96J C67FD65 E@ 86E E96 D9@E]k^Am
kAmp?5 ;FDE 2 76H 52JD =2E6C[ @? ~4E] `[ 42>6 E96 |6C4J w@DA:E2= DEC:<6[ H9:49 :5=65 >2?J @7 E96 $@FE9 qF772=@ 9@DA:E2=VD D6CG:46D[ AFE a[___ 962=E9 42C6 H@C<6CD @? E96 A:4<6E =:?6 2?5 C65:DEC:3FE65 A2E:6?ED – 2?5 AC6DDFC6 – 24C@DD E96 C68:@?VD 9@DA:E2=D]k^Am
kAmp >@?E9 =2E6C[ E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 C68:@?VD @E96C 9@DA:E2=D 2C6 8C2AA=:?8 H:E9 >@C6 A2E:6?ED] p?5 A2E:6?ED 2C6 724:?8 =@?86C H2:E E:>6D 7@C 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46D 2D G@=F>6D :?4C62D6[ H9:=6 @E96CD 2C6 D66:?8 E96:C 6=64E:G6 DFC86C:6D A@DEA@?65 5F6 E@ 2 =24< @7 2G2:=23=6 365D]k^Am
The region's health care system, already squeezed after hundreds of workers lost their jobs or were put on leave because of the state vaccine mandate, is facing even more constraints if unionized workers at Mercy Hospital go on strike Friday.
kAmx? 724E[ `_ 52JD 27E6C E96 DEC:<6 3682?[ tC:6 r@F?EJ |65:42= r6?E6C 925 dea A2E:6?ED DE2J:?8 :? :ED 9@DA:E2= – E96 9:896DE :?A2E:6?E 46?DFD :? E96 >@C6 E92? `__\J62C\@=5 :?DE:EFE:@?VD 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmpE z2=6:52 w62=E9[ H9:=6 E96 6>6C86?4J C@@> H2:E E:>6D =:DE65 @? :ED H63D:E6 7@C qF772=@ v6?6C2= |65:42= r6?E6C 2?5 |:==2C5 u:==>@C6 $F3FC32? w@DA:E2= 2C6 C68F=2C=J @G6C 2? 9@FC[ A2E:6?ED @7E6? H2:E >F49 =@?86C]k^Am
kAmp?5 7@C tC:6 r@F?EJVD s:G:D:@? @7 t>6C86?4J |65:42= $6CG:46D[ E96 ;@3 @7 4@@C5:?2E:?8 >65:42= 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 36EH66? 2>3F=2?46D[ 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 @E96C AC@G:56CD 92D 8@EE6? 6G6? >@C6 492==6?8:?8]k^Am
kAmr2E9@=:4 w62=E9 2?5 E96 DEC:<:?8 H@C<6CDV F?:@?[ E96 r@>>F?:42E:@?D (@C<6CD @7 p>6C:42 {@42= ``bb[ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 32C82:? 2?5 H@C< E@H2C5 2 562=[ @?6 >@?E9 :?E@ 2 5:DAFE6 @G6C H286D 2?5 DE277:?8 =6G6=D] r2E9@=:4 w62=E9 :D A2J:?8 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD 6249 H66< E@ 2 DE277:?8 7:C> 7@C C6A=246>6?E H@C<6CD E@ <66A |6C4J w@DA:E2= @A6C2E:?8[ 2=36:E 2E 2 D:8?:7:42?E=J C65F465 D42=6]k^Am
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo was caring for less than half as many patients on Wednesday than i…
kAmu@C :?DE2?46[ r2E9@=:4 w62=E9 D2:5 |6C4J w@DA:E2= :D 42C:?8 7@C 23@FE `__ A2E:6?ED 52:=J[ 5@H? 7C@> :ED FDF2= 46?DFD @7 >@C6 E92? b__] xED 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E :D D66:?8 23@FE d_ G:D:ED 2 52J[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 E96 EJA:42= `cd\`e_ A2E:6?ED 52:=J]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 7C24E:@? @7 E96 42C6 H6 42? AC@G:56 2E E9:D 9@DA:E2=[ H9:49 >62?D @E96CD :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ ?66565 E@ DE6A FA @C E96C6’D 366? =@?8 56=2JD :? 42C6[Q r2E9@=:4 w62=E9 !C6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ |2C< $F==:G2? D2:5]k^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E92E 3FC56? 2=D@ 92D D9:7E65 E@ r2E9@=:4 w62=E9VD @E96C 9@DA:E2=D[ H9:49 2== 2C6 2E @C ?62C 42A24:EJ[ DA@<6DH@>2? y@p?? r2G2?2F89 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$:?46 E96 DEC:<6 3682?[ E96 ?F>36C @7 DE27765 9@DA:E2= 365D 24C@DD (6DE6C? }6H *@C< 92D 72==6? – D92CA=J] pD @7 ~4E] b_[ E96C6 H6C6 a[`gg 9@DA:E2= 365D 24C@DD E96 C68:@?[ 5@H? 23@FE ce`[ @C `fT[ 7C@> a[ech 365D E96 52J 367@C6 E96 DEC:<6 3682?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ DE2E6 w62=E9 s6A2CE>6?E 52E2]k^Am
kAm$:>:=2C=J[ E96 ?F>36C @7 DE27765 :?E6?D:G6 42C6 F?:E 365D H2D agg @? ~4E] b_[ 5@H? `b`[ @C 23@FE b`T[ 7C@> c`h xr& 365D @? $6AE] b_]k^Am
kAm(:E9 76H6C 365D[ E96 A6C46?E286 @7 @44FA:65 365D 92D AFD965 9:896C 2D @7 ~4E] b_[ E@ gf]`T :? 9@DA:E2= 365D 2?5 E@ gf]dT :? xr& 365D]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 C68:@?VD @E96C 9@DA:E2=D[ :E :D DE:== F?4=62C H96? E96 DE@C> H:== DF3D:56]k^Am
Mercy has suspended inpatient elective surgeries, and is diverting ambulances from the hospital and Mercy Ambulatory Care Center.
kAmkDEC@?8mtr|rk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmv@ 324< E@ a_`h[ 367@C6 r@G:5\`h[ 2?5 :E H2D C2C6 E@ D66 E96 :?A2E:6?E 46?DFD 2E tr|r 8@ 23@G6 d__]Â k^Am
kAm|2J36 2 325 7=F D62D@? @C 2 DA:<6 :? EC2F>2E:4 :?;FC:6D :? E96 DF>>6C >@?E9D 4@F=5 42FD6 E92E ?F>36C E@ 9:E d_` @C d_d[ 3FE DF49 2 7:8FC6 H@F=5 D6E @77 2 H2C?:?8 D:8?2= :?D:56 E96 42>AFD E@ ECJ E@ 2==6G:2E6 E92E 3FC56?]k^Am
kAm“x7 C65 2=6CE FD65 E@ 36 d_`[ J@F 42? :>28:?6 H92E dea 5:5 E@ E96 3F:=5:?8[Q sC] $2> r=@F5 D2:5 @7 E96 :?A2E:6?E E@E2= @? ~4E] ``] k^Am
kAmtr|r :D =:46?D65 7@C dfb 365D]k^Am
kAmr=@F5[ tr|rVD 2DD@4:2E6 >65:42= 5:C64E@C 2?5 2? 2EE6?5:?8 A9JD:4:2? :? E96 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E[ D2:5 E92E :?4C62D65 A2E:6?E =@25 86ED 5:DEC:3FE65 E@ E96 D2>6 2>@F?E @7 H@C<6CD]k^Am
kAm{:<6 r2E9@=:4 w62=E9[ tr|r 2=D@ 92D DECF88=65 E@ 9:C6] $A@<6D>2? !6E6C rFE=6C D2:5 tr|r 92D 23@FE d__ @A6? 4=:?:42= A@D:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%@ 96=A H:E9 E96 9:896C 56>2?5[ tr|r 925 7@FC ?FCD6D 2?5 @?6 E649 7C@> }6H *@C<\!C6D3JE6C:2? w@DA:E2= >2<6 E96 EC:A E@ qF772=@] %9C66 @7 E96> H@C<65 :? E96 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E[ 2?5 EH@ H6C6 :? @?6 @7 E96 4C:E:42= 42C6 F?:ED 7@C @?6 H66<[ H@C<:?8 E96:C =2DE 52J 2E tr|r @? ~4E] aa]k^Am
kAmr=@F5 D2:5 tr|rVD :?A2E:6?E 46?DFD @? ~4E] ae DE@@5 2E dbg[ =@H6C E92? E96 A62< 2 4@FA=6 H66<D 62C=:6C[ 3FE DE:== 9:89] %92E ?F>36C 4=:>365 E@ ddf A6@A=6 2D @7 |@?52J >@C?:?8[ rFE=6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ >@C6 A2E:6?ED 4@>:?8 :?[ r=@F5 D2:5 tr|r 2=D@ 92D 925 2 564C62D6 :? A2E:6?ED =62G:?8 E96 9@DA:E2=]k^Am
kAm(:E9 D9@CE286D @7 ?FCD:?8 9@>6 DE277 2?5 9@>6 962=E9 2:56D[ tr|r :D 9@=5:?8 bh A6@A=6 H9@ ?@ =@?86C ?665 E@ 36 9@DA:E2=:K65 3642FD6 E96J 42?VE 7:?5 2=E6C?2E:G6 42C6 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAmQ(6VC6 86EE:?8 3@EE=6?64<65 H:E9 E96 A2E:6?ED :? E96 3F:=5:?8[Q r=@F5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$@ >F49 D@ E92E tr|rVD Q=67E H:E9@FE 36:?8 D66?Q C2E6 :? :ED 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E[ H9:49 >62?D 2 A2E:6?E =67E E96 9@DA:E2= H:E9@FE 36:?8 D66? 3J 2 5@4E@C[ 92D :?4C62D65 D:8?:7:42?E=J]k^Am
kAmr=@F5 D2:5 tr|r EJA:42==J 2:>D E@ 92G6 E92E C2E6 36=@H b]dT] }@Hnk^Am
kAmQ(6’G6 366? 92G:?8 52JD H96C6 E96 =67E H:E9@FE 36:?8 D66? C2E6 :D a_T 3642FD6 E96 t# :D D@ 7F== E92E A2E:6?ED 564:56 27E6C H2:E:?8 7@C 2 4@FA=6 9@FCD E92E E96J 5@?’E H2?E E@ H2:E 2?J =@?86C[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr=@F5 5:5 D2J[ 9@H6G6C[ E92E tr|rVD DE277 :D EC2:?65 E@ D66 H9:49 A2E:6?ED ?665 E@ 36 D66? :>>65:2E6=J[ DF49 2D E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 F?DE23=6 @C 92G6 2 D6C:@FD >65:42= 4@?5:E:@?]Â k^Am
kAmtG6? 367@C6 |6C4J w@DA:E2= 564C62D65 :ED :?A2E:6?E 42A24:EJ 2>:5 E96 DEC:<6[ tr|r H2D 92G:?8 5:77:4F=EJ EC62E:?8 2== @7 E96 A2E:6?ED E92E 42>6 :? E9C@F89 :ED 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E]k^Am
kAmx? $6AE6>36C[ tr|r 925 g__ A6@A=6 =62G6 H:E9@FE 36:?8 D66?[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 ;FDE a__ :? $6AE6>36C a_a_[ tr|r !C6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ %9@>2D y] "F2EC@496 yC] D2:5]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 4C62E:?8 2 C62= – ?@E @?=J 2 492==6?86 7@C FD 7@C 2446DD 7@C A2E:6?ED[ 3FE @3G:@FD=J 7:?2?4:2==J[Q "F2EC@496 D2:5] Q%9@D6 2C6 A2E:6?ED E92E H@F=5 92G6 366? EC62E65[ 2?5 H6 H@F=5 92G6 366? C6:>3FCD65 7@C :E]Qk^Am
kAm(:E9 492==6?86D E9:D 3:8[ E96C6 2C6 ?@ :>>65:2E6 7:I6D]k^Am
kAmQxE’D 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 FD 2 H9:=6 E@ 5:8 @FE @7 E9:D[Q r=@F5 D2:5]k^Am
The reasons health care workers cite for striking are similar: They have endured the demands and exhaustion of working through the pandemic and insist hospitals staff up to help shoulder the workload.
kAmkDEC@?8mz2=6:52k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm~? E96 7:CDE 52J @7 E96 |6C4J w@DA:E2= DEC:<6[ z2=6:52 D2H 2? :>>65:2E6 DFC86 :? A2E:6?ED ?665:?8 42C5:24 2?5 DEC@<6 42C6] %92E 7:CDE 52J[ H:E9:? 2? 9@FC[ z2=6:52 925 E@ 42== :? 2? 6IEC2 E62> E@ C6DA@?5 E@ 962CE 2EE24<D 2?5 2?@E96C E62> 7@C DEC@<6D[ D2:5 sC] |:4926= |:?6@[ 49:67 >65:42= @77:46C 2E qF772=@ v6?6C2=[ |:==2C5 u:==>@C6 2?5 s6vC277 |65:42= !2C<]k^Am
kAmqF772=@ v6?6C2= :D D66:?8 >@C6 E92? `_ 255:E:@?2= 2>3F=2?46D 2 52J[ 96 D2:5] p?5 z2=6:52VD H63D:E6 2=>@DE 2=H2JD =:DED E96 6>6C86?4J C@@> H2:E E:>6 2E qF772=@ v6?6C2= 2E >@C6 E92? 2? 9@FC]k^Am
kAmx? C62=:EJ[ :E 42? 36 >F49 =@?86C] |:?6@ D2:5 E96 H2:E E:>6 :? qF772=@ v6?6C2=VD 6>6C86?4J C@@> 42? 36 2D >F49 2D `a\`e 9@FCD[ E9@F89 96 ?@E65 A2E:6?ED 2C6 2=>@DE 2=H2JD D66:?8 2 5@4E@C :? EC:286[ H96C6 2 A2E:6?EVD :==?6DD @C :?;FCJ :D 2DD6DD65 D9@CE=J 27E6C 2CC:G2=]k^Am
kAm|:==2C5 u:==>@C6 :D D66:?8 :? 6I46DD @7 2? 255:E:@?2= EH@ @C E9C66 2>3F=2?46D 2 52J[ |:?6@ D2:5] tG6? s6vC277 :? }@CE9 %@?2H2?52[ a_ >:=6D ?@CE9 @7 |6C4J w@DA:E2=[ :D D66:?8 e_ E@ f_ A2E:6?ED 2 52J – C64@C5 9:89D :? C646?E 9:DE@CJ[ |:?6@ D2:5]k^Am
kAm(:E9 =23@C 2?5 56=:G6CJ D6CG:46D 2E |6C4J 2=D@ DFDA6?565[ 96 D2:5 ~:D96: r9:=5C6?VD w@DA:E2= 92D 925 2 bdT :?4C62D6 :? 56=:G6C:6D D:?46 E96 DEC:<6 3682?]k^Am
kAm%@ 25;FDE[ z2=6:52 92D 366? A@DEA@?:?8 D@>6 6=64E:G6 DFC86C:6D @? 2 42D6\3J\42D6 32D:D[ 5F6 E@ 2 =24< @7 2G2:=23=6 365D[ |:?6@ D2:5]k^Am
kAm~?6 >@?E9 :?E@ E96 |6C4J DEC:<6[ |:?6@ D2:5 E96 :?4C62D65 A2E:6?E 56>2?5 92D C6>2:?65 6=6G2E65]k^Am
kAmQ(6 925 E96 DFC86[Q 96 D2:5] Q(6 56G6=@A65 D@>6 AC@46DD6D[ H9:49 82G6 FD 2 BF:4< 36?67:E[ 3FE E96 492==6?86 H6VC6 92G:?8 ?@H :D ;FDE 6IEC6>6 72E:8F6 2>@?8DE @FC DE277] %96J H6C6 72E:8F65 7C@> r@G:5[ 2?5 E96 =2DE E9:?8 E96J ?66565 H2D E96 255:E:@?2= G@=F>6 7C@> 2 DEC:<6 @FED:56 @FC DJDE6>]Qk^Am
kAmz2=6:52 2=D@ 92D DECF88=65 E@ 9:C6 2?5 92D b__ @A6? A@D:E:@?D 24C@DD E96 DJDE6>] |:?6@ D2:5 z2=6:52 92D 9:C65 >@C6 C64CF:E6CD[ 2AAC@24965 C6E:C65 DE277 2?5 28C665 E@ 2? :?46?E:G6 AC@8C2> H:E9 E96 F?:@?D C6AC6D6?E:?8 >2?J @7 :ED H@C<6CD E92E 2==@HD D@>6 6>A=@J66D E@ 62C? 6IEC2 A2J 7@C A:4<:?8 FA 255:E:@?2= D9:7ED]k^Am
Kaleida's staffing crunch has been aggravated by the pandemic, the state's vaccine mandate and a patient volume increase stemming from an ongoing strike at Mercy Hospital.
kAmQxEVD D9@H:?8 D@>6 67764E:G6?6DD :? D@>6 2C62D[ 3FE C62==J :EVD 6?4@FC28:?8 E96 DE277 H6 2=C625J 92G6 E@ <66A 4@>:?8 E@ H@C<[Q |:?6@ D2:5] QqFE :E 5@6D?VE 255C6DD E96 :DDF6 @7 ?665:?8 >@C6 A6@A=6]Qk^Am
kAm!2EC:4< (6:D2?D2=[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 r(p {@42= ``eg[ H9:49 C6AC6D6?ED b[g__ H@C<6CD 2E z2=6:52[ D2:5 E96 A2?56>:4 2?5 E96 |6C4J DEC:<6 92D AFE 2 DA@E=:89E @? E96 =@?8DE2?5:?8 :DDF6 @7 9@DA:E2= DE277:?8]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 2=H2JD 366? 3FDJ[Q D2:5 (6:D2?D2=[ 2 `a\J62C qF772=@ v6?6C2= 6>A=@J66 H9@ :D 2 r% D42? E649?@=@8:DE 2E E96 724:=:EJ] QxEVD ;FDE 255:?8 >@C6 @?E@ E96 A=2E6]Qk^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 |6C4J DEC:<6 92D 8C23365 E96 9625=:?6D[ 96 D2:5 >2?J @E96C 9@DA:E2=D 7:?5 E96>D6=G6D :? 2 D:>:=2C D:EF2E:@? H:E9 3FC?65\@FE 6>A=@J66D =@@<:?8 7@C :>AC@G6>6?ED :? E96:C ?6IE 4@?EC24E] r(p {@42= ``eg C6AC6D6?ED D@>6 H@C<6CD 2E r2E9@=:4 w62=E9VD $E] y@D6A9 r2>AFD[ H9:49 :D A2CE @7 E96 @?8@:?8 ?68@E:2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 F?:@?VD 4@?EC24E H:E9 z2=6:52 6IA:C6D 2E E96 6?5 @7 |2J]k^Am
kAmQ%96 DEC:<6[ J6D[ 92D 2? :>A24E @? G@=F>6[Q (6:D2?D2= D2:5] QqFE E96 AC@3=6>D H6VG6 366? D66:?8 2C6 E96 D2>6 E96JVG6 366?]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt>6C86?4J |65:42= $6CG:46Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmr@@C5:?2E:?8 >65:42= 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2=C625J 4@F=5 86E 4@>A=:42E65] xE @?=J 3642>6 >@C6 492==6?8:?8 E9C@F89 2 A2?56>:4 2?5 2>:5 DE277:?8 D9@CE286D 2E 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 2E 2>3F=2?46 4@>A2?:6D]k^Am
kAmQ%96 DEC:<6 2E |6C4J 92D 4@>A@F?565 :E[Q D2:5 vC68@CJ v:==[ 56AFEJ 4@>>:DD:@?6C @7 tC:6 r@F?EJVD s:G:D:@? @7 t>6C86?4J |65:42= $6CG:46D] Qx?DE625 @7 2>3F=2?46D 5C:G:?8 `_\`d >:?FE6D E@ 2 9@DA:E2=[ E96J’C6 5C:G:?8 b_ >:?FE6D E@ 2 9@DA:E2=] xE’D 9:EE:?8 E96 G@=F?E66CD :? E96 D@FE96C? 2C62[ D@FE9 @7 E96 4:EJ[ 3642FD6 @7 E96 =24< @7 9@DA:E2=D E96C6]Qk^Am
kAm%@ E9:D A@:?E[ 96 D2:5 ?@CE9 @7 qF772=@ 92D 72C65 2 =:EE=6 36EE6C]k^Am
kAmQ%2<:?8 |6C4J @FE @7 E96 >:I C62==J :?4C62D6D E96 3FC56? @? E96 G@=F?E66CD[Q v:== D2:5]k^Am
kAm%@ 252AE[ v:== D2:5 E96 4@F?EJ :D H@C<:?8 @? 36:?8 23=6 E@ EC2?DA@CE A2E:6?ED E@ :>>65:2E6 42C6 724:=:E:6D :7 E96 :?;FCJ @C :==?6DD :D >@C6 =@H C:D<] x? }6H *@C<[ 96 ?@E65[ E96 A2E:6?E >2<6D E96 56E6C>:?2E:@? @7 H92E 9@DA:E2= E96J H2?E E@ 8@ E@]k^Am
kAmv:== 42==65 E96 DEC:<6 Q2 E:AA:?8 A@:?E[Q H:E9 E96 A2E:6?ED E92E |6C4J H@F=5 92G6 EC62E65 36:?8 C65:DEC:3FE65 E@ @E96C 724:=:E:6D 24C@DD (6DE6C? }6H *@C<]k^Am
kAm“xE’D BF:E6 E96 C:AA=6 67764E E9C@F89@FE E96 H9@=6 DJDE6>[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com.
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
