On Friday, April 5, NYSNA nurses at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH)/Northwell ratified a new contract by an overwhelming majority. The breakthrough came as nurses spoke out against the unsafe working and patient care conditions they face and a looming strike deadline.

Highlights of the contract victory include improved safe staffing standards with stronger enforcement, historic wage increases totaling 22.12%, improved healthcare for retired nurses, Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a new paid holiday for nurses, increased employer contributions to NYSNA Health and Pension Plan, and more.

Twenty-six major labor unions showed their support for SIUH/Northwell nurses by signing a joint solidarity letter. The letter signers, which included the Communications Workers of America, 32BJ SEIU, DC 37 and Teamsters Local 804 called on Northwell to settle a fair contract with nurses and to protect care for Staten Island.

The wage increases that nurses won bring SIUH/Northwell nurse pay up to par with other New York City private-sector nurse wages. They averted a strike and won a huge victory for safe staffing standards that protect patient care for Staten Island.

Congratulations, SIUH/Northwell nurses! You took on Northwell Health — New York’s biggest private hospital system — and won.