NYSNA Update: February 28, 2025
South Shore Northwell Nurses Announce 99% Yes Vote to Authorize ULP Strike
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, nurses at South Shore University Hospital/Northwell Health announced that 99% voted yes to authorize an unfair labor practice strike. Long Island Labor Federation leaders, UFCW Local 1500, Long Island Jobs with Justice, Suffolk County Legislator Sam Gonzalez and nurses from Huntington Hospital/Northwell joined South Shore nurses during a powerful speak-out in front of the hospital. South Shore nurses turned out in NYSNA red to send a clear message to Northwell management that they are ready to do whatever it takes to win safe staffing, improved wages and benefits, and a voice in patient care. Newsday, News 12, and the Amityville Record covered the speak-out.
South Shore nurses’ contract expires today, Feb. 28, but instead of meeting nurses’ demands and settling a fair contract, Northwell management has been busy surveilling and intimidating nurses in violation of their federal labor rights. During the speak-out, nurses argued that Northwell can afford to invest in quality patient care but is instead choosing to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding the South Shore campus and purchasing other health systems, such as the Connecticut-based Nuvance Health. Nurses also called out Northwell’s decision to launch its own film studio. Nurses are pushing Northwell to put patients over profits and focus on improving staffing in areas such as the emergency department and labor and delivery units. They are also asking Northwell to hire more nurses to cover sick calls to maintain safe staffing at all times. Nurses shared that understaffing is especially bad when nurses go on break and managers do not assign break relief nurses to maintain safe staffing standards for patients.
The speak-out showed Northwell management that South Shore nurses are united and have the Long Island labor community’s support as well as the backing of NYSNA’s 42,000 members. NYSNA nurses are going back to the table on Monday, March 3. Long Island NYSNA nurses at Northwell Huntington Hospital and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, some of the newest NYSNA members, are also actively bargaining. Over 2,500 nurses at these three hospitals are united for quality care for all Long Island patients.
NYSNA Nurses Receive Bombshell Albany Med Staffing Deficiency Report
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center held a press conference to announce the receipt of a long-awaited Department of Health (DOH) Staffing Deficiency Report, which details a shocking 500-plus violations and shows that hospital administrators disagreed, deflected and ignored the report’s findings for nearly six months. Instead of working with frontline nurses on the hospital’s clinical staffing committee to create corrective action plans to address the staffing crisis, hospital administrators refused to share the report, acknowledge the problem or involve nurses in efforts to improve staffing — all of which they are required to do by law.
NYSNA nurses are continuing to pore over the extensive report, looking for evidence that Albany Med has implemented the corrective action plans cited in the DOH report. At the bargaining table on Monday, Feb. 24, Albany Med management still refused to answer questions about the report or share with nurses its rationale for corrective actions. The Albany Times Union, the Daily Gazette, News 13, Spectrum News, CBS6 and WDG covered the press conference and the deficiency report.
While Albany Med management works overtime to hide staffing problems, NYSNA nurses have shown that they won’t stop fighting until they secure a contract that respects nurses; abides by New York’s safe staffing laws; and ensures capital region residents have access to the safe, quality patient care they deserve! Find out more details about the DOH’s deficiency report by reading NYSNA’s press release.
Montefiore Nurses Speak Out to Save Hospital Beds in the Bronx
On Friday, Feb. 28, Montefiore Bronx nurses spoke out to save hospital beds and services and end overcrowding in the emergency departments and hospital floors at Montefiore Moses and Weiler. You can watch the Facebook livestream here. CIR/SEIU healthcare workers and community and elected allies — including Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Northwest Bronx Community Clergy Coalition, Mekong NYC and New York Nonviolent Medicaid Army — joined NYSNA nurses to oppose Montefiore's recent “restructuring” plan that could negatively impact patient care in the Bronx. Montefiore plans to eliminate hospital beds and some essential healthcare services, including some surgical and palliative care services, at Montefiore Moses in the Bronx.
Nurses are demanding that Montefiore preserve beds and services at Moses and end overcrowding in Bronx hospitals. Right now, Montefiore Moses and Weiler have overcrowded emergency departments and patients waiting in hallways for care — a situation that has gotten worse since last year. There are already not enough beds for patients on the hospital floors, and “overflow” patients are placed in areas not intended for patient care. NYSNA nurses have met with New York elected officials, attended community board meetings, organized actions inside their facilities, and worked to gain community support to save these beds and keep services in the Bronx. They are showing Montefiore management that they will not stop until Bronx patients receive the dignity and quality care they deserve. Stay tuned!