FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, Feb. 19, 2024
Contact: Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
Diana Moreno | press@nysna.org | 917-327-2302
NORTHWELL LONG ISLAND JEWISH VALLEY STREAM NURSES REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT AVERTING STRIKE
Tentative Agreement Comes After NYSNA Members at Peconic Bay/Northwell Reached a Tentative Agreement on Feb. 16.
Contract Highlights Include Safe Staffing Improvements, Wage Gains
LIJ Valley Stream Nurses to Vote on Tentative Agreement on Feb. 20.
Valley Stream, N.Y.— New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses at Long Island Jewish (LIJ)/Valley Stream/Northwell reached a tentative contract agreement early Sunday morning after bargaining through the night, averting a looming Feb. 21 strike.
The tentative agreement includes improvements to safe staffing standards, stronger and expedited safe staffing enforcement, addition of new nurse positions in the Emergency Department holding area, improved benefits including pension improvements, and wage increases. More details about the agreement will be released pending ratification. Members will vote on whether to ratify the contract on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
This agreement comes on the heels of NYSNA nurses and healthcare workers at Peconic Bay Medical Center/Northwell Health reaching a tentative agreement on Feb.16. The new tentative agreements bring both Northwell facilities to wage and staffing levels comparable to other Northwell facilities in Long Island and private sector hospitals in New York City.
Sandra Armstrong, RN, a veteran nurse leader at LIJ Valley Stream, said, “Nurses put our lives on the line because we care about our patients. That’s why I became a nurse, and that’s why we were ready to do whatever it takes to achieve safe staffing and fair wages to retain nurses and provide excellent care for our Valley Stream community. I’m proud of our nurses for remaining united and ready to fight until Northwell agreed to a fair contract.”
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: "Congratulations to our members at LIJ Valley Stream, who fought hard for safe staffing and respectful wages to recruit and retain nurses for Valley Stream patients. Their willingness to fight for a fair contract will ensure Northwell is investing in safe patient care.”
NYSNA members at Northwell Health Peconic Bay and LIJ Valley Stream had been at the bargaining table for several months, and both contracts expired on Dec. 31, 2023. Healthcare workers at both facilities took strike authorization votes and delivered official notices to strike beginning Feb. 21 unless they reached a deal.
NYSNA has won new contracts with significant safe staffing and wage increases for nurses and healthcare workers across Long Island in recent months. These two contracts close out a total of five recent Northwell negotiations on Long Island since the beginning of 2023 and three negotiations with Catholic Health hospitals.
###
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.
