| | A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members | April 25, 2025 | |  | | | Nathan Littauer Nurses Speak Out for a Fair Contract After holding a speak-out last week, on Thursday, April 24, NYSNA nurses at Nathan Littauer Hospital held an informational picket and press conference to demand a fair contract. They called on management to return to the table, stop playing games with patient care, and settle the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve. Nurses are fighting to ensure that the only hospital in Fulton County can meet the community’s needs and provide safe, quality patient care. That’s why their top contract demands include safe staffing and respectful wages and benefits to keep qualified nurses at the bedside. Show support for Nathan Littauer nurses by signing their petition here. | | | |  | NYC H+H Nurses Gather at H+H/Kings County to Rally for Sick Time New York City Health+Hospitals (H+H)/Mayorals nurses continue to fight back against a punitive sick leave change that reduces nurses’ sick leave and pressures them to work sick. Despite nurses’ frontline exposure to infectious disease and the right to use earned sick leave, H+H has begun pressuring nurses to work sick and “counseling” registered nurses for using sick leave. This is bad for both nurses and our communities. H+H nurses are not backing down. They will keep up the pressure by bringing their concerns directly to the H+H Board of Directors and public at H+H/South Brooklyn Health on Tuesday, April 29. Members will speak out before the annual meeting and testify to board members and the public. We will continue to fight until H+H leaders do the right thing and reverse this unfair policy to maintain a healthy workplace for nurses, patients and the public. Take action to let H+H leadership know how you feel about nurses working sick. Read more about the rally on social media or view the photo slideshow. | | | | NYC Private Sector Nurses Gather for April Campaign Meeting On Wednesday evening, private sector nurses across New York City gathered to continue to prepare for their upcoming 2025 contract campaign. Nurses reported on their Nurses Week plans to launch the campaign at each hospital, discussed their coordinated bargaining surveys in May, and shared their progress on the recruitment of all Contract Action Teams. After a historic contract win in 2023, nurses are ready to fight for safe staffing and respect for nurses! | | | | ECMC Nurses Fight for Paid Family Leave The fight for paid family leave at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) heats up. Paid family leave is a critical resource that offers New Yorkers job-protected, paid time off after the birth of a child or when a member of their household is sick or overseas on deployment. But to access New York’s Paid Family Leave program, public sector nurses must opt into it. ECMC members have been fighting for months to have management agree to provide paid family leave. They finally got management to agree—congrats, nurses! Now members just have to vote yes to opt in! Elections are open at the hospital May 5 or at Terrace View May 9! | | | |  | Northwell/Huntington Nurses Gather Community Support in Their Fight for a Fair Contract This week, NYNSA nurses at Northwell/Huntington Hospital visited local businesses and distributed signs of solidarity to gather support in their fight for a fair contract. Business owners and patrons eagerly showed their solidarity by displaying the signs and signing the community petition. Nurses are demanding that Northwell invest in nurses, negotiate in person at the hospital or NYSNA’s office, and bargain the fair contract that patients and nurses deserve. Join nurses’ fight and call on Northwell to do better by signing their petition here. | | | |  | NYSNA Nurses Attend Long Island Federation of Labor Gala This week, nurses celebrated labor leaders at the Long Island Federation of Labor Gala. Newly organized Huntington Hospital and NYSNA board members joined hundreds of union members and labor leaders to recognize leaders who have dedicated their lives to championing working people and strengthening the labor movement on Long Island. Nurses showed that Long Island is union strong! | | | |  | NYNSA Nurses March for Climate Justice and Immigrant Justice In celebration of Earth Day last Saturday, NYSNA nurses joined thousands of New Yorkers to send a clear message: “Our City, Our Fight.” Unions and community-based organizations like New York Communities Change, 350.org, the Center for Popular Democracy and dozens of others gathered in unity to protect our immigrant communities and our planet. They called on the city to protect our rights and our planet and to oppose the cuts to essential services. | | | |  | NYNSA Nurses March for Climate Justice and Immigrant Justice In celebration of Earth Day last Saturday, NYSNA nurses joined thousands of New Yorkers to send a clear message: “Our City, Our Fight.” Unions and community-based organizations like New York Communities Change, 350.org, the Center for Popular Democracy and dozens of others gathered in unity to protect our immigrant communities and our planet. They called on the city to protect our rights and our planet and to oppose the cuts to essential services. | | | | SAVE THE DATE: May Day Next Thursday is May Day! Also known as International Workers Day, May Day is celebrated around the world and dates back to the Haymarket workers’ fight for the eight-hour workday and safer workplaces. Over the past three months, we’ve seen unprecedented attacks against workers and a swift dismantling of the safeguards and rights we’ve fought to build and protect. Join the labor movement and NYSNA members in the streets next week to make your voice heard and march against these attacks. Events will be taking place across the state. In New York City, nurses will gather at Foley Square in downtown Manhattan at 5 p.m. Share the flyer and register today! In Albany, members will gather at Albany Medical Center. Download and share the flyer. Don’t miss this day of solidarity! | | | |  | Support Nurses in Need! Help NYSNA Raise Funds for Nurses House, Inc. Nurses House, Inc. has launched its fifteenth annual “Dolphins for Nurses” campaign to raise funds for registered nurses in need throughout the United States. The fundraising campaign, sponsored by the NYSNA, will run from April 12-May 12, culminating in National Nurses Week. The campaign invites nursing groups and staff at hospitals nationwide to fundraise by offering white, gold, and blue dolphin cards in exchange for $1, $5 or $10 donations. All proceeds will be put towards the Nurses House Service Program to benefit nurses facing serious health issues and other dire circumstances. Help us meet our goal by donating via the NYSNA fundraising link and support fellow nurses in need. | | | | Know Your Rights and Advocate for Patients When Encountering ICE Nurses’ first duty is to care for and advocate for our patients. NYSNA nurses care for all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, income or insurance status, race, religion, ability or disability, sexuality, or gender identity or expression — simply regardless. Read our statement regarding the federal policy change on immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations,” including hospitals and schools. NEW: Our allies at the New York Immigration Coalition developed this toolkit to provide a comprehensive list of resources for community members, partners and allies who work with immigrants. The toolkit covers health, community safety, family resources, financial empowerment and more. Learn your rights and get answers to frequently asked questions here to know what to do if you encounter ICE officers in your facility. NYSNA has also prepared this list of legal resources related to immigration. Please review and share widely. | | | | NYSNA Endorses 27 Candidates for NYC City Council NYSNA nurses proudly endorsed a group of 27 candidates for New York City Council. As part of the Labor Strong 2025 Coalition, NYSNA and four other major city unions, 32BJ SEIU, Communications Workers of America District 1, District Council 37, and Hotel Trades Council, jointly endorsed candidates who will fight for worker rights, health equity and our city’s future. This is a critical election year, and it’s more vital than ever that we have a pro-worker, pro-union, pro-healthcare justice majority in the New York City Council to support nurses and our fights for patients. Read NYSNA’s full press release about the endorsement here, and see below for key dates for this year’s election! | | | | Key Dates for 2025 Primary Election Our ability to strengthen the public health system — our social safety net — and support frontline working people depends on electing candidates who support nurses, healthcare professionals and our communities. For that, we need our members to get out the vote in New York’s primary elections. Review important dates and information about this year’s primary below.
FIND YOUR NEW YORK CITY POLLING SITE
FIND YOUR NEW YORK STATE POLLING SITE
KEY DATES FOR 2025 ELECTIONS - June 14: Last day to receive an absentee ballot
- June 14-22: Early voting for the primary election
- June 23: Deadline to apply in person for a primary ballot
- June 24: Primary Election Day | Deadline to postmark mail-in ballot
| | | | NEW Courses Added: Sign up for New NNU Courses Free for NYSNA Members Starting in May and throughout the summer, National Nurses United (NNU) will offer FREE virtual courses for NYSNA members! View the full calendar and register here or click on the links below to learn more and register for the courses you’re interested in. When registering for NNU courses, be sure to check off the first box, "Yes, I am a CNA/NNOC/NNU member." | | | | Nurses for Democracy: Updated Resources to Protect Patients and Navigate Recent Federal Changes The Trump administration is rapidly making sweeping changes that affect nurses and our patients in and out of the hospital. As nurses, our first and most important responsibility is to our patients. Regardless of gender or immigration status, we are committed to providing every patient with high-quality, safe healthcare and treating them with dignity as people. That is why NNU has put together a list of resources to stay informed and fight back against the rollout of several policies attacking and endangering marginalized communities’ health, safety and lives. See our list of resources regarding these policy changes here. | | | | NEW: Nurse Scholarship Opportunity Scholarships are now available for registered and licensed practical nurses in New York. The 2025 Edna A. Lauterbach Scholarship offers up to $6,300 for those pursuing a home and community-based care career path. The scholarship covers tuition, books, specialty training and other educational expenses. The deadline for scholarship applications is June 1, 2025, and winners will be announced at the New York State Association of Health Care Providers conference in October 2025. For more information and to apply, visit www.ednascholarship.org or contact NYS Association of Health Care Providers at 518-463-1118 or via email at hcp@nyshcp.org. | | | | Journal of the New York State Nurses Association The Journal of the New York Nurses Association is currently seeking papers. Authors are invited to submit scholarly papers, research studies, brief reports on clinical or educational innovations, and articles of opinion on subjects important to registered nurses. Of particular interest are papers addressing direct care issues. New authors and student authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts for publication. Check out the latest volume of the journal and read the guidelines for submission here. | | | | 2025 Nursing Education & Practice Courses NYSNA members can take advantage of FREE e-leaRN courses, including state-mandated offerings, standard of practice and certification review courses, as well as nursing practice workshops. Take a look at the complete course offering, and register for the courses directly here. You must create an account and be signed into it to search the full catalog of classes and register for them at no cost! | | | | Calling All Nurse Practitioners The NYSNA Nursing Education and Practice Department has added required and important educational offerings specifically for nurse practitioners (NPs). The courses include new, updated, new and required and mandated courses. Learn more and register to these free classes for NYSNA NPs. | | | | | | NEW Labor Education Courses and Spring 2025 Trainings Open for Registration The April Member Leader Training series concluded this week with members from across the state participating in the weekly four-part training. Keep an eye out for future dates for our leadership training and reach out to labored@nysna.org if you wish to schedule a facilities-based training for you and your coworkers! Bargaining trainings continue. For newly joined Contract Action Team members and those looking for a refresher, join members from all NYSNA facilities that have launched their contract campaign to exchange information and learn from each other! The last training of the month, What Is a Contract Campaign is tomorrow, Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. You can find the comprehensive schedule and the registration link. Please reach out to labored@nysna.org with questions or requests for trainings in your facilities. | | | | | | | | Effective Jan. 1: Prenatal Rights Under New York State Law Recent changes to New York state employment law help working parents better navigate work and family and require hospitals to better accommodate registered nurses’ medical and family needs. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, New York has become the first state in the U.S. to require paid prenatal care leave, impacting all private employers. This comes not long after the June 2024 change that requires public and private employers to provide a minimum of a 30-minute paid break for employees to pump breast milk. Learn more about these rights in our updated NYSNA fact sheet and the New York State FAQs. | | | | Nurses’ Rights to Be Whistleblowers and Protest Your Assignments NYSNA members should be empowered with the knowledge of laws that have been passed with NYSNA’s input to protect them and empower them to speak up when patient safety is compromised, either due to unsafe staffing or other factors, such as a lack of personal protective equipment, as was the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a moment to learn about your rights in this flyer. | | | | NEW: Avian Influenza & Measles Webinar The current avian influenza outbreak in the U.S. has affected almost 200 million birds and almost 1 thousand cattle herds. Many other species, including domestic cats, have been infected. And while the official count of human infections remains under 100, it is estimated that actual cases are far higher. Additionally, the U.S. is currently experiencing escalating rates of measles, pertussis and TB.
A new webinar “Avian Influenza & Measles: Preparing for New & Newly Recurring Infectious Diseases” will assist nurses in understanding the current situation of each of these pathogens, preparation for possible effects on the healthcare system, best practices for infection control in the healthcare setting, and protections for both patients and nurses. This webinar is being offered on Wednesday, June 11, from 10 a.m.-noon, and Thursday, June 12, from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Register for either session here. | | | | CDC Issues Health Advisory on Influenza Testing The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory through its Health Alert Network regarding testing and subtyping for influenza A. There is currently a high rate of seasonal influenza A (both H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes) in circulation. In addition, the current avian influenza subtype is an influenza A virus (H5N1). By recommending a shorter timeline for testing and subtyping which type of influenza A that patients are presenting, the CDC hopes to catch any human avian influenza cases as quickly as possible. Read the full advisory here. If you have questions or concerns regarding infection control at your facility, please contact the NYSNA Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at healthandsafety@nysna.org. And check out all the latest infectious disease alerts from NYSNA Health and Safety, including the updated Are Hospitals Today More or Less Prepared for Surges? health alert as well as alerts about Norovirus and Mpox. | | | | COVID-19 Leave Fact Sheet Nurses working in New York have several options for fully paid or partially paid leave to cover work time missed due to COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 quarantine. Check out this fact sheet updated by NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety team to learn more about your rights under New York state law. | | | | Long COVID Guide Read NYSNA’s Long COVID Guide to help you stay informed on the diagnosis, treatment options, benefits and rights for workers with long COVID. | | | | | | | | May is Mental Health Awareness Month The Union Assistance Program (UAP) is offering four live online sessions in May to support union members for Mental Health Awareness Month. Please use the following links to register for the sessions. After registering for a live session, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more resources, check out this flyer, which recommends specific online webinars, trainings and learning centers in support of Mental Health Awareness Month. | | | | NYSNA Life Insurance – It's Time to Designate Your Beneficiary NYSNA already provides members with a great benefit at no cost: Basic MetLife Life Insurance! This coverage provides $20,000 of Basic Life Insurance and $20,000 of Basic Personal Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance. All active members in good standing represented for collective bargaining through the union will automatically be enrolled in the plan. This union benefit is in addition to any other insurance provided by your benefits fund, your contract, or through your employer. But for your loved ones to receive this benefit, you must designate them as a beneficiary! To enroll and receive instructions on designating a beneficiary for your new Basic Personal AD&D Insurance, go to nysnawinstonbenefits.com or call 1-866-483-1124. Sign up with your NYSNA Member ID to set up and access your account and benefits. If you need your Member ID, please contact the NYSNA Membership department at membership@nysna.org. Download the flyer for additional details. | | | | NYSNA Will-Writing Benefits From MetLife The NYSNA Benefits Fund gives NYSNA members who are covered by the NYSNA Benefits Fund access to personal will preparation services that MetLife Legal Plans offer — at no additional cost. Having a will prevents unnecessary stress and ensures final wishes are clear. The Benefits Fund offers valuable legal resources through MetLife Legal Plans to assist with creating or updating a will with a member’s Basic Life coverage. As part of this benefit, members get legal guidance and unlimited consultations with network attorneys. Learn more here. | | | | NYSNA Members Are Eligible for AFL-CIO’s Union Plus Benefits! The benefits of being a NYSNA member extend beyond your NYSNA benefits. As an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, NYSNA members are also eligible for Union Plus benefits to help current and retired labor union members and their families save money and support them through major milestones, celebrations and hardships. These benefits include discounts on wireless plans, credit card deals, mortgage deals, discounts on insurance plans and more! Find out more on the AFL-CIO Union Plus website. | | | | | | Free Benefits for NYSNA Members: UAP Program and SPAN Program The Union Assistance Program (UAP) is a confidential self-help program, independent from NYSNA, that is available to NYSNA members and their families as a membership benefit. When an employee or family member (18 or older) faces a significant personal problem, they can call UAP’s experienced counselors at 800-252-4555 for assistance at any time. Read more information on phone counseling services here. Learn about the benefits and resources that the UAP offers here. The April 2025 newsletter focuses on rethinking drinking for your health. Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) is a confidential education, support and advocacy program for all nurses licensed in New York state who are dealing with substance abuse problems. Visit the SPAN website for more information, or to sign up for one of its March classes. Learn more about SPAN’s new Compassion Project here. Check out our NEW Spring Newsletter. Wellness Wednesdays: As part of its mission to promote a healthy lifestyle, SPAN is also offering a Self-Care Series that includes free Wellness Wednesday courses. Check out April’s classes focused on functional mobility as well as the full calendar of Wellness Wednesday offerings here. | | | | | | | | In solidarity,
Pat Kane, RN
Executive Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
