A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members   |   October 24, 2025  

Dear NYSNA Member, 

Get Ready for the 2025 NYSNA Convention!

It’s time! NYSNA members from across the state are coming together for the 2025 NYSNA Convention to decide our union’s direction. The 2025 Convention will take place at Resorts World Catskills and the Kartrite Resort on Oct. 28 and 29 in Monticello, New York. This year’s Convention theme is “Strength in Solidarity.” 

REMINDER — ALL CONVENTION 2025 REGISTRANTS 

To take Convention courses, you must visit the E-LeaRN site to secure your spot now and obtain your continuing education credits at the end of each session. Visit the E-LeaRN site here to: 

• Create an account if you are not a registered user. 
• Enroll in your desired convention sessions. 

Members can review the Convention agenda and get the most up-to-date information on the Convention on the NYSNA website. The Complete Course Listing and Continuing Education Information and this year’s Proposed Convention Resolutions are also available on our website.  

This year, NYSNA is excited to introduce the Cvent app, a central hub for NYSNA members to access key information and make the most of their time at Convention. The Cvent app gives NYSNA members access to the full schedule, allows them to plan their own schedule by adding sessions to their personal agenda, and notifies members of relevant updates and announcements. Cvent will also include a map of the Convention venue to help members find their way around. NYSNA will email all Convention registrants a personalized link to download and log in to the Cvent app as we get closer to the Convention. Stay tuned!

BronxCare, Montefiore and NYP Nurses Speak Out for a Fair Contract!

This week, NYSNA nurses across three private sector facilities held powerful speak-outs to advocate for their patients and send a clear message to management that nurses are ready to fight for a fair contract! Starting on Wednesday, Oct. 22, NYSNA nurses at BronxCare spoke out about understaffing, workplace violence and their concerns for their immigrant patients. Assembly Member Landon Dais and South Bronx Unite joined the nurses in solidarity. Listen to WFUV’s coverage here.  

On Thursday, Oct. 22, nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian spoke out to defend patient care and called on one of the city’s richest hospitals to put patients over profits. Sen. Robert Jackson, Council Member Shaun Abreu, and Citizen Action’s Carolyn Martinez-Class joined in solidarity to support the fight for quality care and a fair contract.  

Members at Montefiore also rallied in front of their hospital and spoke out about their hospital’s failure to staff safely, alleviate overcrowding and hallway patients, and invest in quality care in the Bronx. Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz, Assembly Member George Alvarez and members of CIR-SEIU, the Northwest Bronx Community Clergy Coalition and Mekong joined in to demand Montefiore do more for the Bronx community.

Members were energized and ready to head back to their bargaining tables and support their union siblings who will speak out in November. Check out pictures from the actions on our Facebook page. 

Margaretville Hospital Nurses Ratify Their First Contract! 

NYSNA members at Westchester Medical Center’s Margaretville Hospital voted overwhelmingly to approve their first contract. Nurses voted in person and online on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Wednesday, Oct. 22. Sherrelle Wolfe, Margaretville’s local bargaining unit (LBU) president, said, “This is an amazing victory for our community and nurses. Our new contract will allow us to retain and recruit nurses to continue to provide the care our community deserves” Nurses won significant pay increases in their new contract, making Margaretville competitive in its region. The new contract also improved retirement benefits, staffing, education and shift differentials. Congratulations to some of our newest NYSNA members on their first contract! 

Maimonides Nurses Deliver Platform Petition at Bargaining 

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, NYSNA Maimonides nurses held their second negotiating session with management. The session started strong, with LBU and NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, and Executive Committee Member Russel Pinsker presenting directly to management their platform petition signed by over 1,500 NYSNA members. But management’s response was nothing short of insulting. Management came to the table with a set of regressive, anti-nurse proposals designed to strip away hard-won rights and benefits for which NYSNA members have fought over decades. Nurses made it clear that these proposals were unacceptable and demanded that management focus on recruiting, retaining and respecting nurses — not gutting their contract and dragging them back decades. 

This fight is just beginning. Nurses are preparing for their next negotiating session in November and will be organizing additional actions to make sure management hears their message loud and clear: Maimonides nurses will not back down until they win a fair contract. 

Victory: Governor Hochul Signs Workplace Violence Bill Into Law  

On Thursday, Oct. 16, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law one of the workplace violence bills that NYSNA worked on alongside our union siblings. The new law will allow healthcare workers who are victims of workplace violence to give their statements to police at their facility instead of at a police station or precinct. This is a strong step in the right direction toward making our workplaces safer. Check out the updated fact sheet from NYSNA’s Health and Safety Department for more details of the new law and to learn proven strategies hospitals can implement to prevent workplace violence in your facility. 

WMC-HealthAlliance NYSNA Nurses Demand Security Measures  

Nurses at WMC-HealthAlliance Hospital packed the room at their Oct. 21 labor management meeting to voice concerns and demand immediate action after a recent Code Silver event in their Emergency Department. Nurses spoke out about the lack of security staff, inadequate safety policies and procedures, as well as a nonworking metal detection system. Nurses have submitted several demands for immediate implementation and follow-up and more long-term measures. 

Victory: State Steps Up With Transformation Grants to Support Safety Net Hospitals  

On Thursday, Oct. 16, Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program, totaling more than $2.6 billion in investment in safety net hospitals across New York, including NYSNA facilities like Erie County Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, St. John’s Riverside Hospital and WMC-HealthAlliance. This investment will help improve the quality of care that safety net hospitals provide and stabilize their operations for long-term sustainability to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to high-quality care. NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane, RN, said, “At a time when federal healthcare cuts threaten patients’ access to care and New York’s healthcare system, NYSNA applauds the New York State Department of Health's Safety Net Transformation Program. This additional state funding for New York's safety net hospitals is essential and will benefit some of our most vulnerable patients, as well as help stabilize our entire healthcare system.” Read more about the program in Hochul’s press release here.  

Fall 2025 Labor Ed Trainings Open for Registration

NYSNA’s Labor Education Department trains members on how to become engaged union members and union leaders. Sign up for Labor Education’s standard trainings that include learning about NYSNA and organized labor, how to turn out your co-workers to meetings and events, how to win issues in your unit, how to take control of meetings with management, and more. Check out Labor Education’s updated fall schedule here.

Additionally, bargaining trainings on how to become an effective Contract Action Team member, mobilizing members for the contract fight, and rounding are available and can be tailored to your facility. Email labored@nysna.org directly if you have questions or to schedule a workshop in your facility. 

NYSNA Nurses Join No Kings Marches Across New York

On Saturday, Oct. 18, NYSNA nurses joined the nationwide No Kings Day March in New York City and across the state. From Buffalo to Mount Kisco to Manhattan, NYSNA nurses and healthcare workers marched with labor unions and working families to remind the federal government that there are no kings in the United States of America and that the power belongs to the people. Nurses proudly held signs that said, “Defend Healthcare, Defend Democracy!,” “Protect Good Union Jobs!” and “Some Cuts Don’t Heal” to remind the public that nurses are at the forefront of organizing against the federal attack on healthcare and workers’ rights! 

NYSNA Nurses Join Make the Road New York’s Annual Gala

On Thursday, Oct. 16, NYSNA leaders and board members Judith Cutchin, DNP, RN, and Flandersia Jones, MPH, BSN, RN, joined Make the Road New York’s Annual Gala to celebrate the organization’s accomplishments and show solidarity for Make the Road’s organizing to protect New York’s immigrant community. NYSNA nurses connected with State Senators Jabari Brisport and Julia Salazar, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Carmen DeLaRosa, and Council candidate Shanel Thomas-Henry. 

Your Rights to 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.

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 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. 

Early Voting Starts TOMORROW! Vote Early for NYSNA Champions. 

Election Day is less than two weeks away, and early voting begins TOMORROW, Saturday, Oct. 25. Find your polling site in New York City here and in the rest of New York here, and make sure to check out NYSNA’s list of endorsements on our website before you cast your ballot to vote for healthcare and labor champions!  

Key Dates for General Election Season: 

• Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 2025: Early Voting Period 
• Nov. 4, 2025: Election Day 

Voting is just one way to participate in the political process. Join NYSNA’s Political and Community Organizing Department to knock on doors or call NYSNA members to get them out to vote! Join our weekly canvasses throughout New York City or make some calls from our New York City offices.  

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, insurance plans and more! Find out more on the AFL-CIO Union Plus website. 

The Talkspace Go App Is Mental Health on the Go!

The Talkspace Go app is a great resource that provides 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.

Free Benefits for NYSNA Members: Union Assistance Program and SPAN

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. October 2025 newsletter here on tackling financial worries through resources like financial coaching and money-saving ideas and benefits available through UAP.

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 sign up for one of its upcoming classes. Check out SPAN’s Compassion Project. 

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 the full calendar of Wellness Wednesday offerings here. 

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