Brooks Hospital staff picket over contract talks

DUNKIRK, Aug. 8, 2007 – More than 120 healthcare professionals picketed Brooks Memorial Hospital on Aug. 7, sending management a message that they will no longer tolerate delays in contract negotiations.

The registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical and nuclear technologists are currently negotiating a new contract. Their most recent three-year contract expired June 30.

The protest was being held because hospital management has yet to provide the staff with an offer that addresses their concerns over a fair wage scale, vacation allocation, and the hospital’s sick leave policy. The next negotiation session is scheduled for Aug. 9.

With more than 34,000 members, NYSNA is the oldest and largest state nurses’ association in the nation. It is an influential union for RNs, representing nurses in New York and New Jersey. Offering a wide range of services to its members, NYSNA fosters high standards of nursing education and practice and works to advance the profession through legislative activity. It is a constituent of the American Nurses Association and of the United American Nurses, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

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