Statement: Regarding decision in NYSNA v. Montefiore Medical Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2020
Contact: Carl Ginsburg | carl.ginsburg@nysna.org | 917.405.1060
Statement of the New York State Nurses Association regarding a lawsuit brought against Montefiore Medical Center to protect the health and safety of nurses treating COVID-19 patients. The suit charged the hospital for its actions that have exacerbated the spread of the virus and jeopardized the health and safety of the nurses, their patients, and other health care workers.
Although the suit was dismissed, since its filing, Montefiore has said that it will:
- Properly fit nurses with N95 respirator masks, that they will now get on a daily basis
- Give legally-required sick pay to nurses who have been out of work due to COVID-19 infection, and restore sick pay banks that the hospital previously improperly docked
- Expand COVID-19 testing to more nurses working with COVID-19 patients
- Establish additional compensation benefits for every frontline healthcare worker to recognize their extra work efforts and significant personal sacrifices
An arbitration between Montefiore and NYSNA over an omnibus safety grievance that NYSNA filed will take place. Every safety improvement that Montefiore Medical Center has made was the result of nurses fighting for working conditions that protect the health and safety of nurses and patients.
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The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, please visit nysna.org.