CSEA Responds to Staffing Reductions at Erie County Medical Center

BUFFALO, NY (01/30/2026) (readMedia)-- The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) is responding to staffing reductions announced at Erie County Medical Center, which impact employees across multiple unions as well as some management positions.

CSEA is actively engaged in supporting its members affected by the layoffs and ensuring that all contractual rights are fully protected throughout the process.

"These staffing reductions affect employees across multiple unions as well as management positions at Erie County Medical Center," said Steve Healy, President of CSEA Western Region 6. "CSEA is actively working with the employer during this process to protect our members' contractual rights, including seniority and bumping provisions, and we are filing a class action grievance to ensure the process is handled correctly. 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."

"The leadership of CSEA's Erie Unit and Local 815 are working closely together to ensure this layoff process complies with civil service law and our collective bargaining agreement," said Bill Wilkinson, President of CSEA Local 815, and Michele Bollman, President of the CSEA Erie Unit. "We are committed to supporting our members throughout this difficult time and will continue working to hold ECMC management accountable."

"CSEA has been engaged with ECMC for months, including advocating for additional funding to prevent layoffs," said Ebony Rose, CSEA Section President at ECMC. "Unfortunately, those efforts were not enough. 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 and hold the hospital accountable to its mission of compassion."

CSEA will continue to closely monitor ECMC's actions and pursue all available avenues to ensure the layoff process is conducted lawfully and in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.