A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members   |   March 7, 2025  

Dear NYSNA Member, 

NYSNA Celebrates Women’s History Month

Happy Women’s History Month to all the women of the New York State Nurses Association and in the labor movement who fight to create a more just, equitable and healthy world for all. With attacks on our rights as workers and the systemic rollback on equity initiatives, it is now more important than ever to celebrate women’s leadership in nursing and the labor movement and to fight to protect reproductive health, gender-affirming care, gender-based protections, and the labor and civil rights of all women and girls. 

South Shore Northwell Nurses Give Unfair Labor Practice Strike Notice 

On Tuesday, March 4, nurses at Northwell Health/South Shore University Hospital marched on the boss to deliver an unfair labor practice strike notice. Nurses will go on strike on Monday, March 17, unless hospital administrators agree to a fair union contract that keeps enough experienced nurses at the bedside to provide safe patient care to Long Island patients. Instead of prioritizing negotiating a fair contract, the Northwell/South Shore administration has interfered with its employees’ federal labor law rights, including but not limited to engaging in retaliation, interrogation and surveillance of nurses. NYSNA filed unfair labor practice charges against the hospital on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The nurses’ union contract expired on Friday, Feb 28. 

NYSNA nurses do not take striking lightly and see it as a last resort. They will continue urging Northwell to prioritize negotiating a fair contract with safe staffing, improved wages and benefits that will help recruit and retain nurses. South Shore nurses are ready and willing to meet with Northwell as often as it takes to come to an agreement and avoid a strike. Patch, News12 Long Island and Becker’s Hospital Review, covered the strike notice delivery. 

Last Wednesday, Feb. 26, nurses held a speak-out at the hospital and announced that they voted in favor of authorizing an unfair labor practice strike by over 99%. NYSNA nurses at Northwell/Huntington Hospital and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital are also in active bargaining on Long Island. Over 2,500 NYSNA nurses at these three Long Island hospitals are united for quality care for all Long Island patients. 

Common Council Passes Resolution Demanding That Albany Med Respect Nurses

On Monday, March 3, the Albany Common Council passed a resolution in support of NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center calling on hospital leadership to address the ongoing staffing and patient care crisis. After nearly one year of speaking out, the resolution is the latest in a renewed outpouring of support for nurses from labor and community allies in the capital region. 

The resolution also comes on the heels of nurses uncovering a long-awaited, bombshell Department of Health (DOH) Staffing Deficiency Report, which shows more than 500 violations of the safe staffing law at the hospital. 

On the same day the Council passed the resolution, the Albany Times-Union published an editorial blasting Albany Med for failing to acknowledge, let alone address, the issues in the DOH deficiency report.

NYSNA nurses notched another win when last week Region 3 of the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Albany Med, alleging that the hospital broke federal labor law and has refused to bargain with NYSNA in good faith by withholding crucial information about its use of travel nurses. Nurses have decried Albany Med’s overreliance on expensive temporary travel nurses instead of settling a fair contract that will help recruit and retain staff nurses.  

It’s clear that the Albany community and elected officials are in solidarity with capital region nurses and patients who deserve a hospital administration that prioritizes safe, quality patient care over profits. NYSNA nurses are fighting to hold Albany Med accountable and finally win the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve. 

H+H Nurses Take Action to Protest Unfair Sick Leave Policy Changes

NYC Health+Hospitals (H+H)/Mayorals members are continuing to fight back against NYC H+H’s new interpretation of its long-standing time and attendance policy that discourages them from using their sick leave. Nurses from H+H hospitals throughout New York City wore “If RNs Work Sick, You Can Get Sick” stickers to protest against the unfair, arbitrary and punitive changes of the nearly 40-year-old policy. This action follows the passage of a NYC H+H/Mayorals executive council resolution last month that called on members to initiate a campaign demanding the administration reaffirm the practice of having three or more consecutive sick days constitute a single occurrence. Members are fired up and ready to continue standing up for their health at the upcoming H+H Manhattan Annual Board meeting on March 18. Find out more in this informational flyer and RSVP to attend here. H+H nurses are also calling on the community to email H+H Hospital executives and call H+H CEO, Dr. Mitchell Katz to tell them to stop pressuring nurses to work sick! 

Wynn Nurses Win Grievance on Call Pay

NYSNA nurses at Wynn Hospital recently fought for and won a grievance on call pay. Wynn hospital administrators agreed to pay nurses their guaranteed three hours of time and a half or up to one hour of double time when their shift is extended due to patient care, and they are scheduled to work call after their regular hours. This compensation will be the norm regardless of whether a nurse leaves the hospital before starting their call shift. The employer also agreed to apply this language retroactively, which means members who have been working to provide care for their patients despite not being adequately paid for their time will receive a significant payout. Congratulations, Wynn nurses, on this victory for nurses and patients! 

Garnet Health Medical Center Nurses Present Petition in Support of a Fair Contract

On Tuesday, March 4, Garnet Health Medical Center nurses presented management with a petition signed by a super majority of members in support of their negotiating committee. Nurses are united in their fight to win a contract that attracts and retains nurses to provide safe quality care to their patients and community. 

North Country Nurses Strategize for Safe Staffing

On Wednesday, March 5, NYSNA nurses from Massena, Canton-Potsdam and Gouverneur Hospitals got together to plan out an extensive campaign to push their employers to fully staff their facilities. For months now, staffing at the hospitals has frequently fallen below safe staffing levels and against New York State’s mandated guidelines. Members are fed up with the employer’s empty promises and are taking escalatory steps to ensure that floors are fully staffed for every shift. 

Join the March 15 Rally to Stop the Cuts!

Join NYSNA at the Sunday, March 15, rally in New York City as we come together with labor and community allies to fight back against extreme cuts to Medicaid that threaten our patients, profession and hospitals. Congress is moving forward with devastating proposals to cut $2 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare, housing and food assistance, and other vital programs to fund a massive tax giveaway to the wealthy and corporations. The Trump administration has given unelected billionaires free rein to shut down services and force layoffs for their own ends. RSVP today to say: No cuts to working people to fund tax breaks for billionaires and corporations! And stay tuned for other ways to contact your representatives and fight back. 

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 President Testifies in Congressional Hearing on Potential Cuts to Medicaid

On Thursday, March 6, NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, who is also one of the presidents of National Nurses United (NNU), testified at the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee of the House of Representatives on the impact that Medicaid cuts will have on New Yorkers. This was the first in a series of hearings that House Democrats will conduct on Capitol Hill to highlight the real-life implications and human toll of a budget that threatens to inflict the largest cut to Medicaid in history. The hearing featured everyday Americans who rely on Medicaid as well as healthcare workers who understand Medicaid’s role in ensuring basic access to healthcare. Hagans testified on the devastating impact these cuts will have on vulnerable New Yorkers such as children, people with disabilities and older populations.  

Labor Education: Winter-Spring 2025 Trainings Open for Registration

Members at H&H Kings County attended the two-day Leadership Training learning about advancing the interests of the healthcare profession and NYSNA members and ensuring respect for nurses, other healthcare workers, and patients. They discussed and practiced organizing co-workers to resolve worksite issues, grievance handling, legal rights, recruiting co-workers to be involved in union activities, winning safe staffing enforcement, and more. In addition, member leaders at Flushing Hospital also attended a full day of leadership training learning from the most recent union wins and discussing building member power during a contract and other campaigns. Please reach out to Labor Education labored@nysna.org schedule a Leadership Training in your facility. 

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. 

Check out all of Labor Education's upcoming trainings, including new dates in March and April on Collective Bargaining Fights. The next training, Taking Control of Our Meetings with Management,  is tomorrow, Saturday, March 8 at 10 a.m. It’s not too late to register on the NYSNA website. 

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 Collective Bargaining Fights: What is a Contract Campaign on Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 8 p.m.  

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. 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 as well as the full calendar of Wellness Wednesday offerings here.

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