FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Jan. 3, 2024
Contact: Anna Sterling | anna.sterling@nysna.org | 646-673-0419
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
MONTEFIORE NYACK VOTES TO RATIFY CONTRACT WITH OVERWHELMING MAJORITY VOTE OF 99%
All Three Montefiore Lower Hudson Valley Hospitals Avert Strike and Settle Historic Contracts for Nurses and Patients Before Expiration Date
Nyack, N.Y.— Montefiore Nyack, the last of the three Montefiore hospitals in the Lower Hudson Valley to reach a contract agreement, closed out voting Wednesday afternoon. Nurses from the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) had reached a tentative agreement reached on Dec 30, and today voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying the new contract at 99%.
This latest contract victory closes out the NYSNA nurses’ campaign at the three hospitals in the region. The NYSNA nurses were bargaining for the first time on a common expiration and common bargaining platform.
Nurses made historic gains at the three facilities with their new contracts, including safe staffing ratios for the first time at Nyack and strengthened staffing enforcement language at Montefiore Mount Vernon and New Rochelle. The contracts include record-setting wage increases that bring Montefiore Lower Hudson Valley nurses in line with pay standards of the Montefiore Bronx facilities, improved pay differentials for specialized roles like preceptor, charge and team leader, and improved tuition reimbursement. Mount Vernon and New Rochelle nurses improved their healthcare benefits, and Nyack nurses will now be included in the NYSNA pension, a goal Nyack nurses have fought for decades to achieve.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “Montefiore Lower Hudson Valley nurses worked together for the first time to win great contracts for nurses and patients, and they delivered. These record-setting contracts stand as a testament to our nurses’ resolve after months of challenging negotiations. This is an example of the power we hold in solidarity as nurses and healthcare professionals committed to delivering the quality care every community deserves.”
NYSNA nurses campaigned together and negotiated for months to win fair contracts. They rallied alongside labor, community, and elected allies during negotiations in November at Mount Vernon and December at Nyack Hospital. At these speak-outs, nurses called out the high nurse vacancy rates at the three facilities and urged Montefiore to settle fair contracts to help recruit and retain enough nurses for safe, quality patient care.
Approximately 96% of the nurses voted to authorize a strike at Montefiore Nyack, New Rochelle, and Mount Vernon Hospitals in the Lower Hudson Valley, signaling their preparedness to take any necessary measures to reach their goal. All three contracts were settled before the contract expiration date of Dec. 31 and without striking.
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The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.
