Dozens of Community Groups, Labor Unions, and Elected Leaders Call on Ellis to Settle a Fair Contract with Nurses
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Contact: Eliza Bates | press@nysna.org | 646-285-8491
Diana Moreno | press@nysna.org | 917-327-2302
Dozens of Community Groups, Labor Unions, and Elected Leaders Call on Ellis to Settle a Fair Contract with Nurses
Last week, Ellis Medicine nurses, which includes Ellis Hospital and Bellevue Woman’s Center, voted by 94 percent to authorize a 3-day unfair labor practice strike
Schenectady, N.Y.– Today, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) members at Ellis Medicine, which includes Ellis Hospital and Bellevue Woman’s Center, delivered a letter of support signed by 28 elected leaders, labor unions, and community organizations to management at a union contract bargaining session. The letter calls on Ellis management to settle a fair contract with nurses and comes just a week after nurses announced that they voted by 94 percent to authorize a 3-day unfair labor practice strike.
In the letter, supporters pledge to stand with Ellis nurses as they fight for a fair contract: “We urge you to agree with the nurses at Ellis and Bellevue and their just demands to negotiate a fair contract. We see fulfilling these demands as a pathway to protecting the health and safety of our community. If no settlement is reached – we stand in full solidarity with our nurses and will see you on the picket line.”
The letter also calls out Ellis for running an ad campaign saying that they invest in staff, while in reality Ellis has proposed to reduce staffing levels and keep nurse wages low.
"For too long, the hardworking nurses at Ellis Hospital and Bellevue Woman’s Center have been asked to do more with less,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “It’s time for Ellis management to come to the table with a fair contract that addresses safe staffing and competitive wages. Our community’s health and safety depend on it, and I stand in full support of these dedicated nurses as they fight for the respect and conditions they deserve."
Capital District Labor Federation Executive Director Mark Emanatian said, "Ellis nurses are the backbone of Schenectady healthcare. Every day they come to work and take care of our parents, our children, and our neighbors. It's time for us to stand with nurses just like they've stood by us through the darkest and brightest times in our lives. We are proud to support Ellis nurses in their fight for a fair contract that protects patient care."
"We are pleased to stand in solidarity with Ellis nurses. The challenges of low staffing, extended hours, and inadequate wages have posed risks to patient care, especially amid the escalating health issues resulting from the COVID pandemic,” said Rev. Peter Cook, Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches, and Rashida Tyler, Deputy Executive Director.
Ellis Hospital nurse Fred Durocher, RN, said, “We are heartened to have the support of our elected leaders, our labor allies, and our community. It takes our whole community to make sure our patients always get the very best care, and everyone who signed the letter of support is part of that community. We hope Ellis will finally start listening to nurses and our community, and heed the call of the letter to work with us to settle a fair contract that protects care for Schenectady patients,”
Letter signers include the following elected leaders: NY Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara, NY Assembly Member Phil Steck, Schenectady County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich, Albany Common Council Member Ginnie Farrell, 13th Ward Albany Common Council Member Gabriella Romero, 6th Ward Candidate for NYS Senate District 44 Minita Sanghvi, Candidate for NY State Assembly District 112 Joe Seeman, Schenectady County Legislator Anthony Jasenki, Sr Schenectady County Legislator Cathy Gatta, Schenectady County Legislator Richard Ruzzo, and Schenectady County Legislator Gary Hughes.
The following labor unions signed onto the letter: Capital District Area Labor Federation, 1199SEIU, Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, NYSUT, United Steelworkers, Communication Workers of America, Local 1118, CSEA, AFSCME – Local 1000, Troy Area Labor Council, AFSCME Council 66, AFSCME Local 1037.