CWA Catholic Health Staffing & Working Conditions Survey
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CWA represents more than 2,500 nurses, technologists, clerical staff, and other service workers at Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Sisters of Charity Hospital-St. Joseph’s Campus, who have been raising concerns about staffing issues for months. Earlier this month, workers in the nursing, cleaning and dietary departments at Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital of Buffalo voted overwhelmingly (with 97% support) to authorize a strike if we cannot settle a new contract. Our current contract expires September 30.
As COVID-19 cases rise in Erie County, we conducted a survey of more than 500 Catholic Health workers about their working conditions and staffing levels. Results revealed how dire the conditions at Catholic Health hospitals have become and major concerns over understaffing, threats to patient care, supply shortages, high turnover, and low pay.
Brief Overview of Results
More than half of respondents say they have been forced to do work they were not trained for due to understaffing
Over 90% say that Catholic Health has failed to take adequate measures to solve understaffing
Over 70% reported that their hospital lacked the equipment and supplies they needed to adequately perform their roles.
Respondents listed PPE, vials, cleaning supplies, blood pressure cuffs, bath blankets and more as being consistently low in supply
Full Results
Is your hospital having trouble retaining staff?
- YES - 97.81% - 491
- NO - 2.19% - 11
If YES, is this due to (check all that apply):
- Low pay - 76.57% - 379
- Poor working conditions - 83.03% - 411
- Poor treatment of staff - 74.55% - 369
- Concerns about care quality due to staffing shortages - 86.87% - 430
- Catholic Health's refusal to settle the contract - 64.04% - 317
Have you considered quitting your job?
- YES - 77.29% - 388
- NO - 22.71% - 114
If yes, why have you considered quitting?
Due to understaffing or working conditions - 85.55% - 361
Due to low pay or benefits - 73.46% - 310
Due to Catholic Health's refusal to settle a fair contract agreement - 71.09% - 300
Has Catholic Health taken adequate measures to solve understaffing?
- YES - 3.6% - 18
- NO - 96.4% - 482
Have you been forced to do work you were not trained to do due to understaffing?
- YES - 42.03% - 211
- NO - 57.97% - 291
Are hospital services, such as laundry and meals, adequate and timely for patients and staff?
- YES - 25.78% - 124
- NO - 74.22% - 357
Patients are receiving the quality care they need.
- Strongly agree - 1% - 5
- Agree - 8.6% - 43
- Neither agree nor disagree - 16% - 80
- Disagree - 48.8% - 244
- Strongly disagree - 25.6% - 128
My workload is manageable.
- Strongly agree - 0.8% - 4
- Agree - 10.24% - 51
- Neither agree nor disagree - 16.87% - 24
- Disagree - 37.35% - 186
- Strongly disagree - 34.74% - 173
Catholic Health has made the necessary improvements related to staffing levels to better support workers and patients amid this COVID-19 surge.
- Strongly agree - 0.6% - 3
- Agree - 1% - 5
- Neither agree nor disagree - 7.8% - 39
- Disagree - 32.4% - 162
- Strongly disagree - 58.2% - 291
I am worried that there will be an avoidable patient tragedy at my hospital because of staffing shortages.
- Strongly agree - 53.01% - 264
- Agree - 33.94% - 169
- Neither agree nor disagree - 33.94% - 169
- Disagree - 1.41% - 7
- Strongly disagree - 1.41% - 7
I have seen patients be neglected or suffer needlessly because of staffing shortages.
- Strongly agree - 33.67% - 168
- Agree - 35.87% - 179
- Neither agree nor disagree - 19.24% - 96
- Disagree - 6.21% - 31
- Strongly disagree - 5.01% - 25
Catholic Health management runs the hospital with frontline workers' best interests at heart.
- Strongly agree - 1.2% - 6
- Agree - 1.6% - 8
- Neither agree nor disagree - 5.59% - 28
- Disagree - 26.75% - 134
- Strongly disagree - 64.87% - 325
