BUFFALO, N.Y. — As the New York State Nurses Association kicked off contract negotiations Thursday with Western New York's largest hospital, Erie County Medical Center, members and allies rallied in front of the facility.

The union says it's bargaining for better workplace conditions and better wages, which it says will return more staffing and improved patient care for the community.

"It's not a nursing shortage. It's a shortage in the facilities to provide the safety and the competitive wage and the things that we deserve to do patient care properly," Lona DeNisco, a ECMC registered nurse, said.

The negotiations come at the same time a different labor team continues to bargain with the region's largest provider, Kaleida, and healthcare professionals there recently voted to authorize a strike if they reach an impasse.

The issues are similar with hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities struggling to staff and claiming financial struggles due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, the state Department of Health issued draft regulations that would give it discretion to implement penalties against nursing homes rather than a mandatory $300 per day for not complying with the safe staffing law the state passed last year.

"Sadly, DOH's proposed regulations go in the opposite direction, favoring powerful industry interests over vulnerable seniors and workers who, though we call them heroes, are often exploited," Richard Mollot, the Long Term Care Community Coalition executive director, said.

The proposed regulations would also determine nursing home compliance by quarterly average rather than day-to-day.

Mollet, during a second press conference hosted by NYSNA, this time virtual and statewide, said the passed standard of 3.5 hours of daily direct care was already less than nurses had asked and balked at providers claims the rules aren't viable in the current economy.

"If a facility can't provide 3.5 hours, it frankly has no business being in the nursing home business whether it's for-profit or not-for-profit," Mollet said.

Nursing Supervisor Steve Bailey, of the ECMC-connected Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility, said the regulatory debate shouldn't impact contract negotiations negatively.

"It's actually kind of two opportunities to have that discussion so it's almost kind of like a two-pronged attack if we can do things legislatively and we can also do things at the negotiation table," Bailey said.

Public comments on the proposed regulations can be submitted through Monday and nurses hope DOH will change its position.

Earlier this year, ECMC agreed upon a staffing plan with NYSNA and approved a mid-contract 7.5% increase in wages for registered nurses.

The hospital said it successfully recruited 230 RNs and 51 LPNs this year.