Buffalo Nursing Home Workers Picket Catholic Health Over Contract Dispute

Buffalo, New York — More than 200 nursing home workers took to the picket line this week, demanding better wages and childcare benefits from Catholic Health as contract negotiations stretch into their 20th week.

The informational picket drew workers from St. Catherine Laboure Health Care Center in Buffalo and the McAuley Residence in Kenmore, both represented by Local 1199 SEIU. Chants of “Catholic Health has lost their mind” echoed outside Sister’s Hospital on Main Street as certified nursing assistants, activities aides, and other staff voiced frustration over what they describe as uncompetitive pay and inadequate benefits.

Wages Lag Behind Competitors

Shameka Burnette-Matthews, the union’s administrative organizer and lead negotiator, said the workers want a resolution — not a confrontation.

“We’d like to have an agreement right now. We don’t want to be out here,” Burnette-Matthews told industry reports. “These ladies here — they work inside. They’d like to be inside taking care of their residents.”

The core issue, according to union representatives, is that Catholic Health’s nursing homes rank among the lowest-paying in the region. Crystal Luper, a certified nursing assistant with 17 years at St. Catherine Laboure, said the pay disparity has driven colleagues to seek employment elsewhere.

“It’s very discouraging. People have left the facility because they were getting paid at a lower rate,” Luper said.

Childcare Benefits at Center of Dispute

A key sticking point in negotiations involves childcare support. The union is asking Catholic Health to contribute to its existing childcare fund — a benefit already in place at other 1199 SEIU facilities. Union officials estimate the cost at less than $40,000 annually.

Jesse Jackson, another certified nursing assistant at St. Catherine Laboure, said the lack of childcare assistance makes it difficult to retain staff.

“You can’t keep people here if you can’t keep nobody having to watch your kids. Child care is very expensive,” Jackson said.

Luper emphasized that several workers are pregnant and face impossible choices about returning to work without reliable daycare options.

Negotiations Continue

In a written statement, Catholic Health said it respects workers’ rights to lawful picketing and believes agreements are within reach.

“The McAuley Residence and St. Catherine Labouré Health Care Center have been working through the details of two new agreements with local union SEIU 1199,” the statement read. “While we still believe agreements are in sight, the union has decided to hold an informational picket for its members.”

The health system noted it has “plans in place to ensure normal operations continue with minimal disruption” to residents.

However, Catholic Health indicated it does not want to pay into a fund that would benefit workers at facilities it does not operate — a position the union disputes.

Both sides are expected to return to the bargaining table on October 2.

The dispute highlights broader workforce challenges facing the nursing home sector, where operators struggle to attract and retain staff amid rising costs and intensifying competition for caregivers.