Safe staffing bills signed into law!
We did it! After a long, hard-fought struggle, members and healthcare workers succeeded in getting landmark hospital and nursing home staffing legislation passed into state law.
On June 18, the Governor signed the bills, meaning that starting in January, there will be a process for setting and enforcing staffing standards at every hospital and nursing home—regardless of whether the facility is public or private, not-for-profit or for-profit, union or non-union.
This is a huge win for nurses, healthcare workers, patients and nursing home residents throughout the state! We would not have made it this far without the persistence and strong advocacy of NYSNA nurses, who year after year made our voices heard at the bedside, in the streets, and in the halls of Albany!
This year, we joined with our fellow healthcare professionals from 1199SEIU and CWA District 1 to demand safe staffing for the entire care team. Our solidarity, combined with the respect and appreciation of the legislature, helped us get this victory over the finish line, and we thank them.
For many of us, this last year has been the most challenging year of our personal and professional lives. We are exhausted by the years-long fight for what we need to save lives, which began before the pandemic. We know there is hard work ahead to make the promise of these bills a reality, but for a moment, let’s take a breath and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together!
Learn more about what’s in the bill, how we’ll monitor progress, and most importantly—sign up to be a Safe Staffing Captain!
In solidarity,
Pat Kane, RN
NYSNA Executive Director