A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members   |   February 28, 2025  

Dear NYSNA Member, 

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 WDGJ 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!

Welcome to NYSNA, The Brooklyn Hospital Center Nurse Educators!

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, nurse educators at The Brooklyn Hospital Center voted overwhelmingly to join NYSNA! NYSNA Executive Committee Chair Debra Ambrose, RN, and Vice Chair Yvette Byer-Henry, RN, offered their congratulations and solidarity. The election caps a determined organizing effort that began in October 2022 and included a bargaining proposal to add the educators to the existing unit, an arbitration hearing and a two-day National Labor Relations Board hearing that directed the employer to hold a union election. 

Congratulations to The Brooklyn Hospital Center nurse educators! 

ECMC Nurses Present Staffing Platform in Emergency Department to Solve Chronic Understaffing

Emergency department nurses at Erie County Medical Center’s Level 1 trauma center are fighting for their patients by organizing to address chronic understaffing and demanding leadership listen to the nurses. This week, nurses attended their labor management meeting to present a formal platform that would address issues of short staffing, threats of workplace violence, and patient safety in the emergency department. At the meeting, nurses called on management to improve communication and enforce safe staffing.

Nathan Littauer Hospital Nurses Canvass Small Businesses in Fight for Fair Contract

In the ongoing campaign to secure a fair contract, NYSNA nurses at Nathan Littauer Hospital canvassed local businesses on Wednesday, Feb 26, asking them to hang signs supporting nurses. Local business owners, workers, and community members met nurses with appreciation and support. As the only hospital in Fulton County, it’s clear the community recognizes the vital role Nathan Littauer nurses play in providing quality care. 

NYSNA Joins New York Labor Unions Calling on Congress to Protect Medicaid

In a joint letter, NYSNA joined New York healthcare unions, hospitals and healthcare advocacy groups to express deep concerns with impending cuts to Medicaid and to call on Congress to protect this essential program. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the House of Representatives passed a budget resolution that will lead to extreme cuts to Medicaid, but this is only the first step in the federal budget process. There’s still time to make our voices heard and make sure our members of Congress understand that we will not sacrifice our healthcare or essential services to give billionaires and corporations a tax break.  

Join the rally on March 15 in New York City, as NYSNA and labor and community allies fight back against these cuts. And stay tuned for other ways to contact your representative and fight back. RSVP today. 

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. 

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 Nurse Presents on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Rates to the State Senate

On Monday, Feb. 24, NYSNA leader and a public health nurse from Sullivan County Department of Health, Janna Walter, RN, presented to the New York State Senate committee on women’s issues. Senator Lea Webb, the committee chair, invited NYSNA to the panel discussion in which Walter shared current barriers to prenatal and postpartum care that have an impact on maternal mortality in New York. It is crucial for NYSNA nurses to participate in these events to educate lawmakers on the issues that impact our patients and to improve maternal services and rates of infant and maternal mortality in our state. 

Labor Education: Winter-Spring 2025 Trainings Open for Registration

Calling all Contract Action Team (CAT) members! Learn how to be a leader in a contract campaign as an engaged CAT member! Register here for the next training on Monday, March 3. 

Registration for the statewide Spring 2025 Member Leader Training series is open and will take place on Zoom on Thursdays, April 4, 10, 17 and 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Member Leader Training is a four-part training open to all members who want to deepen their leadership skills, and it covers all the basic skills needed to represent your co-workers, enforce your contracts, organize successful collective actions, plan workplace issue campaigns, and have effective meetings with management. You can take each part individually or the entire series, and each provides three contact hours and 0.3 CEUs. Register here and invite your co-workers to attend with you. 

NEW DATES: Check out all of Labor Education's upcoming trainings, including new dates in March and April on Collective Bargaining Fights: What Is a Contract Campaign and Taking Control of Our Meetings with Management and many more. Register on the NYSNA website.

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 March 2025 newsletter focuses on financial literacy and reducing money-related stress.

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 on intention setting. Learn more about SPAN’s new Compassion Project here.

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 March’s classes focused on breathwork to learn foundational breathwork techniques to calm the mind and enhance mental clarity and the full calendar of Wellness Wednesday offerings here.

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