BUFFALO — CSEA leaders first learned last summer that Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) was considering workforce reductions, as hospital officials discussed possible furloughs or layoffs amid mounting financial pressures.
According to CSEA Erie County Local President Bill Wilkinson, early conversations focused on stabilizing operations and avoiding job losses.
In response, Wilkinson and other Erie County Local leaders engaged CSEA’s Legislative and Political Action Department staff, including Director Joshua Terry and Western Region Political Action Coordinator Chris Rackl.
Terry and Rackl met with ECMC management and union leaders in late August. Those discussions resulted in the release of approximately $79 million in state funding through the Vital Access Provider Assurance Program.
Union leaders credited Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature for making the funding available, saying it helped stabilize hospital operations until it expired in January.
With that funding no longer available, and amid ongoing Medicaid reductions and delayed intergovernmental transfer (IGT) funds, ECMC moved forward with layoffs.
As of press time, approximately 55 employees have been affected, though union leaders said the number remains fluid as notifications continue.
CSEA Erie County Local offiers said they have remained closely involved throughout the process to ensure that seniority dates and bumping rights are properly applied.
The state Department of Civil Service reviewed the process to confirm compliance with civil service law. Erie County Local leaders note the initial information provided to CSEA consisted only of employee names, without accompanying seniority data and titles needed to verify placements.
“They didn’t have the proper civil service seniority dates,” said Erie County Unit President Michele Bollman. “People would have been told they were laid off and then possibly brought back once bumping rights and per diems were sorted out.”
Wilkinson said the limited information immediately raised concerns.
“We were given a list of names, nothing else,” said Wilkinson. “Some stood out to me. I knew right away something wasn’t right.”
Among the positions confirmed to be eliminated are personal patient advocates, who serve as a communication link between patients and staff. CSEA Erie County Local leaders said removing those positions could affect both patient experience and hospital funding.
Hospitals are evaluated in part through patient satisfaction surveys tied to federal and state reimbursement programs, where lower scores can directly reduce funding.
“The downside is you’re going to see more negative scores, and that affects reimbursement rates because of the results of those surveys,” said Wilkinson.
Concerns have also been raised at Terrace View Long Term Care, ECMC’s nursing home facility, where staffing levels were already tight.
“They laid off two telephone operators at the nursing home, and they were already paying overtime to cover the front desk.” said Wilkinson.
Union leaders questioned whether the layoffs would result in significant long-term savings. While payroll reductions may lower benefit costs, ECMC, as a public safety-net hospital, cannot turn patients away.
Erie County Local officers noted that chronic understaffing contributes to burnout and may lead to longer wait times and delays for patients.
Because ECMC serves a large Medicaid population, demand for services remains constant.
“We have to take anybody and everybody,” said Wilkinson. “Even if someone goes somewhere else, they often end up here because they’re on Medicaid.”
Union leaders warned that continued Medicaid reductions and unstable federal funding could create additional challenges for public hospitals across the state. ECMC will require an estimated $10 million to $20 million advance on future aid to help protect jobs and maintain service levels.
To protect affected members, CSEA has filed a class action grievance related to the layoffs, along with individual grievances where appropriate.
“We filed a class action grievance on the layoffs to protect every person who was laid off and to make sure it’s done correctly,” said Wilkinson.
CSEA ECMC Section President Ebony Rose said our union remains focused on enforcing the contract and supporting affected members.
“We are carefully reviewing every proposed layoff to ensure the collective bargaining agreement is followed and that our members’ rights are fully protected, while continuing to stand with affected workers,” said Rose.
While recalls are possible under civil service law, union leaders said they are unlikely under current financial conditions.
Looking ahead, Wilkinson said management is preparing for continued fiscal uncertainty.
“There was a lot of hiring over the past five or six years, but now they know they have to get the house in order as major federal changes come down the pipeline,” said Wilkinson.
CSEA Western Region President Steve Healy said reductions at a public hospital raise broader concerns.
“Any reduction in staff at a public hospital raises serious concerns about service levels and the strain placed on the remaining workforce, which ultimately impacts the community that relies on these services,” said Healy.
CSEA leaders said the situation remains ongoing, with staffing levels, funding discussions and potential future reductions still under review. CSEA will continue monitoring developments and advocating for the resources needed to protect both workers and patient care at ECMC.
— Sara McNicholas