Dominican Day Parade

An opportunity for nurses to celebrate Dominican heritage and support our very own Marisol Alcantara, NYSNA organizer and Democratic candidate for New York State Senate District 31. NYSNA nurses enthusiastically endorsed Ms. Alcantara at the parade on August 14 because of her unrivaled commitment to fighting for safe staffing and quality care. If you live in District 31, be sure to vote for Marisol Alcantara in the Primary on September 13!

The deadline for compliance with the final phase of New York State’s Safe Patient Handling (SPH) Act is fast approaching. The Act became law in 2014 as a result of advocacy by NYSNA and our union allies and patient advocacy groups. Come January 1, individual healthcare facilities will be required to move beyond the establishment of SPH planning committees and put SPH programs into place.

As part of its commitment to becoming a leader in quality care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender patients, New York City’s public hospital system developed two training modules that it is urging all staff members complete by December 1, 2016:

Hardly a day goes by without a new report of an overdose of synthetic marijuana (cannabinoids), cathinones like bath salts, or opioids, and NYSNA nurses working hospital emergency rooms from Buffalo to Long Island see the crisis firsthand.

On a single night in July, the Emergency Room staff at NYC Health + Hospitals’ Woodhull Medical Center treated an unprecedented 30 patients who had overdosed on K2, one of the many forms of synthetic marijuana. The professional and compassionate response by the ED’s caregivers garnered special praise from H + H President and CEO Dr. Ram Raju.

The 210 NYSNA nurses at St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage won a resounding victory when they reached a new four-year agreement with management. RNs won across-the-board wage increases totaling 11.4%, additional experience steps, and increases in differentials for charge and education. Most importantly, they achieved their top bargaining priority of maintaining health benefits without any additional costs or cuts in services.

Shore Medical Center NYSNA members in Southern New Jersey voted by a margin of more than 99 percent in support of ratifying a historic new contract that delivers impressive economic gains and gives the 340 nurses more collective bargaining strength by aligning the agreement’s expiration with those of major New York City NYSNA hospitals and AFT HPAE nurses in New Jersey.

In a huge victory for the 130 NYSNA members at Nathan Littauer, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the Gloversville hospital had violated federal law when it locked out nurses as they attempted to return to work following a one-day Unfair Labor Practice strike on January 6. The hospital agreed to pay NYSNA members back wages for the week-long lock out.

“We applaud the Labor Board for standing with us and we are continuing to work towards a fair contract at Nathan Littauer,” said Marion Enright, RN and LBU President.

Hot summer days haven’t slowed down NYSNA members at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Samaritan Hospital in their pursuit of fair contracts that improve staffing levels. At their August 15 contract negotiating session, St. Elizabeth nurses delivered a 10-day strike notice to management. The very next day, NYSNA members at Samaritan Medical Center walked in their own 10-day notice to hospital management. Nurses at the two hospitals plan one-day strikes on September 1.

Cuomo signs bill for Hoosick Falls

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that extends the statute of limitations for victims to sue corporate polluters for personal damages. The bill was inspired by water contamination in Hoosick Falls and was supported by NYSNA nurses who weighed in on the issue by holding press conferences and testifying at hearings. A NYSNA public health nurse in Onondaga penned an article regarding corporate liability for water contamination by corporate polluters several months ago in City and State.

Forging unity is a critical goal; it can only happen when people see their common interests, instead of focusing on anger, fear and alienation.

As nurses, what are our common interests? Obvious answers: enough staff to care for our patients, a functional healthcare system, benefits that sustain our families and livelihoods, a dignified retirement, a violence- and intimidation-free workplace, resources and support that truly enhance our practice.

The Affordable Care Act was a step in the right direction toward ensuring that all Americans have access to quality healthcare. However, for-profit insurance companies are trying to use the ACA as an excuse to merge into mega-for-profit monopolies, consolidating corporate power to maximize profits instead of focusing on providing the best possible care at the lowest cost to consumers.