A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members   |   October 31, 2025  

Dear NYSNA Member, 

Strength in Solidarity: Highlights From the 2025 NYSNA Convention

This week, NYSNA members from across the state came together for the 2025 NYSNA Convention. The Convention took place at Resorts World Catskills and the Kartrite Resort on Oct. 28 and 29 in Monticello, New York. This year’s Convention was the largest in NYSNA history, with over 1,000 members in attendance. This year’s Convention theme was “Strength in Solidarity.” 

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, kicked off the Convention strong. She reminded members that because of the unprecedented attacks on our healthcare system and workers’ rights, “nurses and healthcare workers will need to stick together and build our solidarity within the labor movement to hold our ground. We’ll need to build our solidarity and strength to win a healthcare system that we all deserve. We must act. We must keep flexing our power—in our facilities and on the local, state and national level.” Nurses filled the meeting hall by chanting “Hands off our healthcare” and vowed to keep fighting to ensure that all New Yorkers get the healthcare they deserve. 

Day 1 was filled with educational workshops where nurses learned how to use their voice in the press and on social media, learned about the campaign to pass the New York Health Act, learned about the threat of artificial intelligence, learned how to organize new nurses and more. Ulster County Executive Jennifer Metzger, Fiscal Policy Institute Health Policy Director Michael Kinnucan, and Community Voices Heard Executive Director Juanita O. Lewis joined nurses for an informative panel on the impacts of the federal healthcare cuts on our hospitals. NYSNA members closed the evening with special guest speakers, including Mario Cilento, New York State AFL-CIO president, who reminded nurses, “Since January 20, the labor movement in this country has been under attack like never before,” and encouraged NYSNA members to get involved in political organizing to fight back against attacks on workers’ rights. The night ended in a social event where nurses brought their energy to the dance floor. 

Day 2 of Convention was a robust day of union democracy with NYSNA delegates introducing, discussing, and voting on resolutions to guide the union’s direction. Nurses also continued to engage in workshops and learned how to enhance their physical assessment skills, prevent workplace violence, and protest their assignments. Nurses from across the state were empowered to fight for their rights, fight for a fair contract in their facilities, and continue doing the organizing work of building power in their facilities and in New York to protect healthcare for all New Yorkers! Check out photos from the convention on our Facebook page.  

NNU RNRN Stand By: Hurricane Melissa Response 

RNRN is preparing for a potential deployment to assist victims in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. 

Since barreling through the Caribbean earlier this week as one of the strongest storms to ever affect the region, Melissa left catastrophic damage across western Jamaica as well as parts of Cuba and Haiti. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, and communication is just now being restored to many areas, with ground access also still very difficult. It is expected that the clean-up and recovery from the storm will be long and arduous. Priorities at this time are the provision of food, water, medical supplies, and generators to the affected regions.

RNRN partner International Medical Corps is currently on the ground in Jamaica working with local officials to determine if and where a medical team deployment might be needed to assist the victims both for immediate needs as well as for the longer-term recovery phase. 

If you are interested in being considered for a potential deployment, go to this link to apply. 

Huntington Hospital Nurses Tell Northwell: No More Tricks; Treat Nurses With Respect! 

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, NYSNA nurses at Huntington Hospital/Northwell Health wore stickers that said, “Northwell: No More Tricks! Treat Nurses With Respect” as they headed into their bargaining session and after management announced that it’s adding additional patients to nurses’ load. Huntington nurses have been escalating their fight for a fair contract, but Northwell management continues to drag its feet in meeting nurses’ commonsense proposals of safe staffing and respectful wages and benefits. 

The sticker action comes after nurses attended a NYSNA town hall last week, where they received and reviewed a strike manual and learned about training opportunities to continue to escalate their organizing and get management to listen. One thing is clear: Huntington nurses are ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract! 

Victory! SSUH Nurses Win Arbitration on Additional Insurance Coverage 

On Friday, Oct. 24, South Shore University Hospital/Northwell Health nurses got notice of an arbitration settlement in favor of NYSNA nurses! In April, during negotiations for the current contract, South Shore nurses won an additional two months of health insurance coverage for leaves of absence that increased coverage from three to five months. But South Shore management failed to implement this provision. Instead, the hospital continued to kick nurses who were on medical leave off of their insurance after three months! South Shore nurses filed a grievance that went to arbitration, and despite an early partial settlement offer from the hospital, nurses kept pushing to make sure that all affected nurses were made whole. In the final settlement, that’s exactly what they won: additional coverage for all South Shore nurses and relief for every nurse who lost insurance and incurred costs while the hospital failed to implement this new contract provision. Way to go, South Shore/Northwell nurses! When we fight, we win! 

Mount Sinai South Nassau Nurses Bring Their Fight for a Fair Contract to the Community! 

On Thursday, Oct. 30, NYSNA nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau (MSSN) took action to educate the public about their contract fight and to organize their colleagues. Nurses distributed flyers outside their facility alongside an inflatable Scabby the Rat to bring public awareness to Mount Sinai’s anti-union tactics and to let their community know that, while Mount Sinai refuses to settle a fair contract for nurses, it continues to hike up healthcare costs for Long Island residents. Nurses had a clear message for management and held out signs that said, “Listen to the Nurses!” They took the opportunity to get their colleagues to add to the hundreds of signatures already on their bargaining platform. The platform highlights the nurses’ main demands of having a closed shop, respectful wages and safe staffing. MSSN nurses are ready to keep escalating until management listens and they agree on the fair contract that Long Island patients and nurses deserve. 

St. Joseph’s Nurses Are Fired Up and Ready to Bargain! 

Last Thursday, nurses at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers marched on the boss and delivered their bargaining platform petition! A strong majority of nurses signed the petition, showing their unity and determination as they prepare for the first day of bargaining on November 6. 

Nurses at St. Joseph’s are ready to fight for a strong union contract with a secure pension for a stable future, safe staffing standards to protect patients and nurses, and fair wages and benefits to recruit and retain nurses. St. Joseph’s nurses are ready to make their voices heard and win the respect, resources, and support they deserve! 

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 Attend New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Benefit Dinner

NYSNA First Vice President Judith Cutchin, DNP, RN; Director-at-Large Flandersia Jones; Director-at-Large Ari Moma, MSA, RN, MPH, BSN, RN; and Secretary Michelle Jones, MSN, RN, ACP, joined NYSNA member leaders and New York elected officials at a powerful event that reinforced NYSNA’s commitment to ending gun violence. NYSNA nurses held signs that said, “Guns Kill, Nurses Heal!” and spoke to attendees about gun violence as a public health crisis and nurses’ commitment to end gun violence in New York. NYSNA members know firsthand about the impact of an epidemic that takes the lives of approximately 1,000 New Yorkers every year. NYSNA leaders also commended State Senator Zellnor Myrie for getting groundbreaking legislation passed in 2021 that allowed civil lawsuits to be brought against gun manufacturers and dealers. Since then, nine states across the country have followed suit. Myrie served as keynote speaker. Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson also attended the event. 

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 Is Underway! Vote Early for NYSNA Champions

There are only two days of early voting left, and Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 4. 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 the 2025 General Election Season: 

Early Voting: 

• Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Sunday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Election Day: Nov. 4 

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. Check out the November 2025 newsletter here on the power of gratitude.

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. 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser

www.nysna.org