News from New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)

For more information contact: Darcy Wells, (518) 785-1900 Ext. 277 or (518) 859-1274

PEF Nurses to Picket Buffalo Psychiatric Center

BUFFALO, NY (09/26/2008; 1053)(readMedia)-- On Tuesday, September 30, nurses who are members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) will hold an informational picket outside Buffalo Psychiatric Center. The gathering will raise awareness to scheduling changes by management that penalizes the most experienced nurses and worsens the nursing shortage at the facility.

PEF nurses will detail how management is forcing nurses, some with more than 20 years on the job, to work weekends while ignoring the union's scheduling solutions that addresses staffing needs and lowers the reliance on overtime.

Informational Picket

Tuesday, September 30, 4 pm

Buffalo Psychiatric Center

Corner of Forest and Elmwood

The Buffalo Psychiatric Center is operated by the state Office of Mental Health which is already struggling to recruit and retain nurses statewide due to poor working conditions. Buffalo Psychiatric Center's plan to require senior nurses to work weekends is making a bad situation worse.

PEF is the state's second-largest state-employee union, representing 59,000 professional, scientific and technical employees including more than 8,500 registered nurses.

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