Hundreds of members gathered in New York City on Aug. 18 to rally, strategize, and kick off a contract campaign for approximately 30,000 NYSNA nurses in New York City and upstate who have union contracts expiring on Dec. 21, 2022 or in early 2023.
NYSNA nurses were joined by NYC Central Labor Council President Vincent Alvarez, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, State Sen. Brad Hoylman, Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, NYC Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, NYC Councilmember Julie Menin, and NYC Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who spoke out in solidarity with the members.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, CCRN, BSN, said: “As nurses and healthcare professionals, our priority is to protect and advocate for the best care for all of our patients. The “We Love NY Nurses” platform will improve patient care, strengthen the nursing workforce, and uplift the communities we serve. Approximately 30,000 nurses are ready to fight for fair contracts that will strengthen healthcare for all New Yorkers.”
NYSNA 1st Vice President, Judith Cutchin, RN, MSN, said: “The nearly 9,000 nurses of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Mayorals system are the backbone of New York City’s public health system, and we bore the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. To build back stronger and become the healthcare system New Yorkers deserve, NYC H+H nurses need safe staffing, fair wages and parity with New York City’s private hospitals.”
NYSNA Western Regional Director, Steve Bailey, RN, said: “It’s time to listen to the nurses when we demand fair contracts that uplift the health, safety and well-being of healthcare workers, our patients and communities. We cannot allow the hard lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to go to waste by allowing hospital administrators to cut corners and return to short-term planning. We must have clear safe staffing and health and safety standards to protect us and our patients.”
The campaign launch was featured in News 12, Spectrum/NY1 and Becker’s Hospital Review.
