| | A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members | May 2, 2025 | |  | | | On May Day, NYSNA Nurses Show Up for Workers and Our Patients! NYSNA nurses in New York City and the capital region showed up in full force to celebrate International Worker’s Day on Thursday, May 1. Hundreds of unions and community organizations supported yesterday’s actions in New York and across the country, which had the theme: “Stop the Billionaire Agenda. We Are the Many, They Are the Few.” In New York City, NYSNA nurses rallied at Foley Square and marched alongside thousands of New Yorkers to demand justice, equity and dignity for all workers and to push back against unprecedented recent attacks on essential social programs and workers’ rights. In Albany, nurses from Albany Medical Center and throughout the capital region marched from Albany Med to the Veteran Affairs hospital to demand a fair contract for Albany Med nurses and protest egregious cuts against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that will harm our veterans and threaten thousands of union healthcare jobs. Check out the press coverage of the Albany event and the photos from the rallies on our Facebook page. On Wednesday, USA Today published an Op-Ed by NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, arguing that cuts to essential programs to pay for tax breaks for billionaires put the lives of our patients at risk. This is exactly why nurses will continue to march and speak out to protect Medicaid, Social Security, and all essential services our patients depend on. Take action: Use this website to easily call and email your Congress member to tell them to vote NO on any budget package that includes cuts to Medicaid. And stay tuned for upcoming actions on our website. | | | |  | H+H Nurses Speak Out to Reverse Sick Leave Policy at Brooklyn Annual Meeting New York City Health+Hospitals (H+H)/Mayorals nurses continue to fight back against a punitive sick leave change. This week, they brought their concerns directly to the H+H board of directors and the public at H+H/South Brooklyn Health on Tuesday, April 29. Nurses from throughout the system testified to the H+H board, expressing that a policy change that punishes nurses for using sick leave and pressures them to work sick endangers both nurses and patients. Nurses reminded H+H leadership that their role on the front line exposes them to infectious disease, and they called out management for penalizing nurses for getting sick and using their hard-earned sick leave. With workers’ rights under attack at the federal level, H+H nurses are not backing down and will continue to fight to protect their right to stay home when sick. They plan to show up at the H+H board of directors annual meeting at H+H/Jacobi on Tuesday, May 20, and they will continue organized actions until the policy is reversed. Take action to let H+H leadership know how you feel about nurses working sick. Check out more photos from the rally and speak-out on our Facebook page. | | | |  | NYSNA Participates in New York Health Act Panel On Thursday, May 1, NYSNA Treasurer and Vassar Brothers nurse, Margaret Franks, BSN, RN, was part of a panel at the Columbia School of Public Health to introduce public health students about the New York Health Act, the New York state version of Medicare-for-All that would expand access to healthcare to every New Yorker and save billions of dollars for both patients and taxpayers by eliminating insurance overhead and streamlining the system. The original sponsor of the legislation, Assembly member Dick Gottfried, and Sherry Chen, the Health Policy Coordinator for the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families, were also part of the panel. NYSNA members believe healthcare is a human right and educating future public health experts on the importance of this legislation is an important part of our mission to advocate for healthcare for all. | | | |  | NYSNA Joins Eleanor’s Legacy Luncheon to Honor Women in Political Office NYSNA’s Board of Directors attended the Eleanor’s Legacy Annual New York City Luncheon on Friday, May 2, to honor women leaders in labor and politics. NYSNA members know that electing more women and more nurses to elected offices is a win for both nurses and patients, which is why we support Eleanor’s Legacy’s mission of recruiting, training, and supporting pro-choice Democratic women to run for state and local office throughout New York. The event featured Congress member Jasmine Crockett as well as New York Attorney General Letitia James. | | | | Calling All NYC Private Sector Nurses: Get Trained to Lead the 2025 Contract Campaign! NYSNA is holding a series of online trainings to prepare member leaders for the 2025 contract campaign. Classes are continuing throughout May. Review course listings are below; sign up here. Bargaining 101
Part 1: Tuesday, May 13 | 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Part 2: Tuesday, May 20 | 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Campaign Prep 101
Thursday, May 15 | 8 p.m. Coordinated Bargaining and Campaigning — What Is It, and What Is It Not?
Tuesday, May 6 | 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Download and share this informational flyer. | | | | ECMC Nurses Speak out in Support of Paid Family Leave Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) nurses spoke out in support of opting in to New York’s Paid Family Leave program. In a series of videos, nurses reflected on the importance of themselves and their colleagues having access to a critical resource that offers New Yorkers job protection and paid time off after the birth of a child or when a member of their household is sick or overseas on deployment. Check out one of the videos here, where an ECMC nurse of almost 20 years reflects on how this benefit would allow her to take care of her father. After months of organizing, ECMC members got management to agree to provide this essential benefit. Now members have to vote YES to opt in! Elections will be held at the hospital on May 5 or at Terrace View on May 9. | |  | After Gathering Community Support, Northwell/Huntington Nurses Continue Bargaining for a Fair Contract Last week, NYSNA nurses at Northwell/Huntington Hospital canvassed local businesses to distribute “Invest in Your Nurses” signs, which business owners readily placed on local storefronts to show nurses their support. Since the community outreach, nurses have seen a boost in the number of signees to their community petition. They entered their sixth bargaining session on Wednesday, April 30, with their community’s support behind them. Nurses from throughout the Northwell system have also been making their voices heard in support of their Huntington colleagues, demanding that Northwell bargain a fair contract, 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. | | | | | |  | NYSNA Board Member Speaks to Defend Article 6 and Critical Funding for City Resources On Thursday, April 24, NYSNA Director at Large Petar Lovric, BSN, RN, CPEN, CCRN, from H+H/Elmhurst, spoke at a virtual press conference about the importance of restoring New York State Article 6 funding to our city. Although all other counties receive 36% reimbursement for public health campaigns from the state, New York City only receives 20%. This funding is essential for supporting New Yorkers through public health campaigns and for ensuring a safe and healthy future for our hospitals and communities. Comptroller Brad Lander, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, Council Member Lynn Schulman, and healthcare professionals and community allies joined Lovric. They spoke about the disastrous effects this disinvestment will have on public health in this city in the face of federal cuts to Medicaid and the importance of giving city residents their fair share of healthcare funding. We are undoubtedly at a crossroads, and nurses will continue to speak up and speak out about essential public health funding because the future of healthcare hangs in the balance. | | | |  | 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 Nurses Join NNU’s Federal Lobby Day NYSNA nurses joined National Nurses United (NNU) nurses from across the country at NNU’s federal lobby day in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 29, and Wednesday, April 30. NYSNA nurses met with New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer to advocate for legislation that would set federal safe staffing ratios and for the passage of the Workplace Violence Prevention Act, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, the Veteran Affairs Employee Fairness Act and the Medicare for All Act. NYSNA nurses also joined the chorus of voices demanding commitments from members of Congress to vote No on any federal budget package that contains cuts to Medicaid. From the bedside to the streets to the halls of Congress, union nurses will ALWAYS advocate for our patients! | | | | NYSNA Endorsements in the 2025 Elections Last week, 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. Check out the 27 Labor Strong- endorsed candidates for New York City Council. NYSNA has also endorsed candidates in other city races, such as Justin Brannan for NYC Comptroller, Jumaane Williams for NYC Public Advocate, and Vanessa Gibson for Bronx Borough President. Check out our full list of endorsements. 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 and in other city or borough-wide roles to support nurses and our fights for patients. Read NYSNA’s full press release about the endorsements and check 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
| | | | NNU Urges Passage of Medicare for All Act On Tuesday, April 29, during one of NNU’s federal lobby days, NNU members from across the country reaffirmed their support for the Medicare for All Act, following the bill’s reintroduction in Congress today by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the U.S. Senate and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sanders, Jayapal and Dingell joined nurses outside the capitol for a press conference in support of the bill. NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo reminded the audience and the press of the importance of passing the bill to push back against the current threats against essential healthcare programs which would make patients rely even more on a broken private healthcare system. “Our immoral system profits from suffering,” Castillo said. Read NNU’s press release and check out a video of the press conference here. | | | | 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. | | | | | | Labor Education Courses and Spring 2025 Trainings Open for Registration NYSNA’s Spring 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 at our upcoming training: Collective Bargaining Fights: What is a Contract Action Team on May 5 at 10 a.m. You can also sign up for our New Officer and New Convention Delegate Leadership Training, Staffing Enforcement: Collecting Protest of Assignments, and our Know Your Rights: Organizing, Representation and Contract Enforcement trainings taking place throughout May. Check out the comprehensive schedule and click here to register. Contact labored@nysna.org with questions or to request a training in your facility. | | | | | | | | 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 — Mental Health Sessions & Talkspace Go App The Union Assistance Program (UAP) is offering live online sessions in May to support union members for Mental Health Awareness Month. Please use the following links to register for upcoming 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. The Talkspace Go app, another great resource UAP offers, is great for accessing daily mental health support on the go! Talkspace Go is a clinician-created, self-guided app so you can address mental health challenges and build mental fitness on your own schedule. It empowers couples, individuals and parents to take progress into their own hands in as little as five minutes a day. Access 400-plus self-guided classes and live weekly therapist-led, anonymous classes. Enjoy assessments, meditation exercises, journaling, reminders and more. Talkspace Go app is available at no cost to members and their eligible household members! Click here for the instructions and passcode to access the app. | | | | 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 May 2025 newsletter focuses on Mental Health Awareness Month. 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
