The Catholic Health System is apparently less generous than other corporations. That's according to a new report released by the Communications Workers of America. The union represents about a third of Catholic Health's 8,700 employees. CHS's audited financial statements and tax filings show that, as of December 2014, CHS had cash reserves of $322 million, or three times more than the larger Kaleida Health. Records also show Catholic Health's "community benefit" or charitable work was less than half of what Kaleida's was during the same period. CWA Area Director, Debora Hayes says, during a Workers Rights Board Hearing on Tuesday she heard "horror stories" from employees working under difficult conditions.
"Catholic Health has a series of values that they attest to. And what we find is that they don't treat their employees up to the value system that they have set as guidlines for themselves," Hayes said.
The report shows that during the recession (2008-2013) top executives received annual increases of 15-to-17-percent. Hayes says Catholic Health has advised the union to be "prepared for belt tightening" during their upcoming contract talks. In a written statement - Catholic Health said, it's "disappointed in the misleading and factually inaccurate report."