The union that represents workers at Catholic Health has launched an advertising campaign against the Buffalo, N.Y.-based system, reports Buffalo Business First.
The campaign, launched Tuesday by the Communications Workers of America, includes a series of radio and mobile billboard ads that claim short staffing at Catholic Health hospitals, according to the article. A "practice picket" was also planned for Tuesday at Catholic Health's St. Joseph Campus in Cheektowaga, N.Y.
Catholic Health officials said the union is using additional tactics to try to gain leverage at the bargaining table by painting a negative view of the health system to the community, reports Buffalo Business First. Catholic Health also noted that it recently hired 71 new nurses, and is in the process of hiring another 39.
"We've addressed staffing issues within our facilities and in our negotiations with the CWA, so it's unclear what the real motivation is behind this latest campaign," JoAnn Cavanaugh, director of public relations, said, according to the article.
In the article, she also said each regional hospital struggles with staffing due to unexpected changes in patient volume, changes in healthcare delivery, area shortages of qualified candidates in certain nursing and clinical specialties and unscheduled staff absences.
The advertising campaign follows a summer of contract negotiations. Union officials were not as positive about the progress of negotiations. The union has indicated it is prepared to strike if needed.
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