FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024
Contact: Diana Moreno | press@nysna.org | 917-327-2302
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
NYSNA MEMBERS AT NORTHWELL/ LONG ISLAND JEWISH VALLEY STREAM AND PECONIC BAY MEDICAL CENTER RATIFY NEW CONTRACTS
Over 85% of NYSNA Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Vote Yes to Ratify Contracts
New Contracts Improve Safe Staffing, Wages, and More
Riverhead and Valley Stream, N.Y.—On Wednesday evening, Feb. 21, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses and healthcare professionals at Northwell Health/Peconic Bay Medical Center (Peconic) and Long Island Jewish Valley Stream (LIJ Valley Stream) ratified new contracts with over 85% voting in favor of ratification.
After a day of in-person voting and a day of online absentee voting, the vote results were tallied. Both three-year contracts improve safe staffing standards and wages— the key demands of NYSNA members at both Northwell facilities.
The Peconic contract in effect Jan. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2026 achieves:
- Improvements to safe staffing standards, including ratio and staffing level improvements to cardiac catheterization, telemetry, and emergency departments. Many units must also now staff to higher levels based on patient acuity.
- Stronger, expedited safe staffing enforcement.
- Enhanced language to ensure members get meals and breaks.
- Protection of NYSNA health and pension benefits.
- Eligibility to participate in the employer's pre and post 65 retiree health insurance.
- Increased tuition reimbursement.
- Average wage increases of 18-20% over three years, depending on experience and job title.
- Greater voice in epidemic and pandemic preparation and safety, including participation in the Infection Prevention Committee.
The LIJ Valley Stream contract in effect Jan. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2026 achieves:
- Improvements to safe staffing standards, including in medical-surgical, telemetry and Emergency Department units.
- Addition of new nurse positions in the Emergency Department holding area.
- Stronger, expedited safe staffing enforcement.
- Improved benefits, including pension improvements.
- Eligibility to participate in the employer's pre and post 65 retiree health insurance.
- Increased tuition reimbursement.
- Average wage increases of 19.3% to the base RN rate over three years, with additional money depending on experience.
- Greater voice in epidemic and pandemic preparation and safety, including participation in the Infection Prevention Committee.
NYSNA represents approximately 300 registered nurses at LIJ Valley Stream and approximately 400 RNs, x-ray technicians, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals at Peconic. Members at both facilities had contracts that expired on Dec. 31, 2023, had been at the negotiating table for months, and voted to authorize a strike earlier this month. NYSNA healthcare workers notified Northwell of their intent to strike on Feb. 21 if an agreement could not be reached. With members at both facilities voting to ratify new contracts, the potential strike was averted.
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.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “Congratulations to our members at Northwell/Peconic Bay and LIJ Valley Stream who demonstrated once again that when we fight, we win! NYSNA healthcare workers were ready to do whatever it takes to defend safe patient care for all communities across Long Island. These new contracts set a high standard on Long Island and everywhere for nurses, healthcare professionals, and our patients.”
Chris Honor, RN, BSN, CAPA, local president at Peconic Bay and NYSNA Southeastern Regional Director, said: “We are thrilled to win a contract that respects healthcare workers and patients in Suffolk County. The wage increases will help make Peconic Bay competitive, so we can hire and retain enough staff for safe patient care. We were so excited to work with our union siblings at LIJ Valley Stream for the first time and look forward to continuing to advocate for our patients and build worker power together."
Sandra Armstrong, RN, a veteran nurse leader at LIJ Valley Stream, said, “LIJ Valley Stream was one of the hardest hit hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic and I think that made us even more determined to fight for our rights and for our patients during these negotiations. I am hopeful our new contract will help us keep more of our new and experienced nurses, and ultimately help us deliver the quality care our community deserves.”
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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.
