Brooks members reject latest contract offer

Dunkirk, Sept. 21, 2007 - NYSNA members at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk overwhelmingly rejected management’s latest contract offer Thursday night.

The vote demonstrated members’ anger over management’s lack of respect for employees and appreciation for the work they do. Members were particularly dismayed by management’s unwillingness to discuss establishing health coverage for retirees. NYSNA offered to refer discussion of this issue to a labor/management committee, so that the parties could work on other contract issues. Management, however, was unwilling to put a commitment into writing.

NYSNA has asked the mediator to schedule additional negotiating dates as soon as possible.

The bargaining unit, which includes 120 registered nurses, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, and nuclear and medical technologists, has been without a contract since June 30, 2007.

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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