(NEW YORK CITY) – New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses have overwhelmingly approved the use of Strikes at 12 New York City Private Sector Hospitals as a December 31st contract expiration date approaches.
The vote gives their Unionized Nurses’ Bargaining Committees the authority to call a Strike if a contract that protects safe patient care is not settled by the end of the year.
Amid Federal attacks on health care, New York City Nurses are demanding the Hospitals do their part to protect safe patient care – which means agreeing to a fair contract that ensures enforceable safe staffing, enough Staff and health care services for our communities, protections for vulnerable patients targeted by the Trump Administration, health and safety and workplace violence protections, safeguards on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health care, and fair wages and benefits to recruit and retain Nurses, NYSNA said.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “We became Nurses because we care about our patients deeply and do not take striking lightly. It is always a last resort. But it’s shameful that instead of trying to protect care and settle a fair contract, Hospitals are dragging their feet and making proposals that would seriously erode care in this City. They should be trying to work with Front Line Nurses right now, not fighting against us. It’s shameful that they would try to hold health care coverage hostage for the Nurses who care for this City’s communities.”
Instead of agreeing to fair contracts that protect safe patient care, the Hospitals have responded to Nurses’ demands with avoidance and delays, the Union said.
The employers have yet to make serious economic counterproposals and some have proposed givebacks that would harm Nurses’ ability to deliver safe patient care and make it harder to hold Hospitals accountable for maintaining safe staffing levels, NYSNA said.
The employers have also refused to guarantee health care benefits for Nurses, seriously jeopardizing health care for the health care providers of New York City, the Union added.
Meanwhile, some Hospitals have retaliated against Nurses for speaking out for a fair contract and improved working conditions, NYSNA said.
After an active shooter event brought safety issues at Mount Sinai into the public eye, Mount Sinai disciplined three outspoken Nurses and has yet to rescind these disciplines or agree to concrete safety proposals despite weekly actions and vigils, NYSNA said.
For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: Nurses at 12 hospitals vote to authorize strike
Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA’s Facebook Page.