Nistel, Inc. RNs vote to join Nurses Association

KINGSTON, April 3, 2009 – Registered nurses employed by Nistel, Inc. voted this afternoon to join the New York State Nurses Association. This is the second organizing election the association has won within the past year in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

Nistel, Inc. is a for-profit “leasing” company, employing registered nurses who work at Benedictine and Kingston hospitals and Foxhall Ambulatory Surgery Center. It was formed by management at Benedictine and Kingston shortly after the Benedictine RNs filed for an election to be represented by the Nurses Association in June 2008.

NYSNA won the election at Benedictine that September, but management challenged the ballots of all surgical services nurses. Kingston nurses had also been convinced of the need to organize. The Benedictine surgical nurses removed themselves from the bargaining unit and joined with the Kingston nurses in February in filing for an election.

“Why did we choose NYSNA to represent us? NYSNA is exclusively an RN union with expertise in issues that affect our practice as registered nurses,” said Nistel RN Diane Nuss. “NYSNA will best be able to guide us through the contract negotiating process so that we will achieve a contract that is fair to all members.”

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 36,000 members, it is the state's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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