Buffalo nurses balk at forced schedule change

By DARCY WELLS
Nurses who work at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center took to the street in late September in a show of unity over forced scheduling changes at the facility.

Members of PEF Division 180 carried signs that read “respect nurses,” “dedicated” and “unappreciated,” sending a message to management that nurses will not be forced to give up their rights.

(Left) Byron Brown shows his support as Council Leader Barbara Rock leads the chants.

“This informational picket was about the blatant disrespect on the part of management in announcing a pilot program that would require every nurse to work at least one weekend day, no matter their seniority,” said Council Leader Barbara Rock.

“There are nurses, who have dedicated the past 20 years of their lives to caring for patients at the center, being told they can’t have a weekend off.

Nurses were already sharing weekends off among themselves, according to Rock, in order to lower overtime and create a more balanced schedule.

“The point is, it was working. This action by management was not only unnecessary, it was uncalled for,” she said.
PEF Region 1 Coordinator Kevin Hintz also attended the rally.

“This facility, like so many others operated by the state Office of Mental Health, is battling a nursing shortage,” Hintz said.
“The last thing management should do is create unrest. and refuse to negotiate with our nurses.

“They have lowered morale at a time when they should be concentrating on improving working conditions,” Hintz said.
“Word-of-mouth is a powerful thing,” Rock added.

“Trying to recruit nurses at a facility where there is so much discord will only make a bad situation worse.”

Jonathan Mekjean and Region 1 Coordinator Kevin Hintz hold the PEF banner.