NYC Public sector Nurses kick off bargaining

Nurses from New York City Health + Hospitals/ Mayorals kicked off their first bargaining session and presented a pay equity proposal. They were excited to be joined by City Council Hospitals Chair Mercedes Narcisse, RN, who fired up fellow nurses and offered words of support. This was their first meeting with the city officials to bargain, and they wasted no time, with more than 50 members attending to organize and build union power.

In early February, more than 50 nurse leaders from the NYC H+H/ Mayorals system attended a newly elected officer training. Executive committee members shared their vision for improving care at the nation’s oldest and largest public hospital system, learned about the H+H and NYSNA governance structure, and brainstormed ways to build NYSNA’s strength in facilities by recruiting more leaders. Facilitated by NYSNA’s Labor Education department, the all-day training provided an opportunity for participants to practice skills like preparing as a committee for a meeting with management and representing coworkers when supervisors question them. Visit NYSNA’s Labor Education web page or contact labored@nysna.org to receive information on similar trainings.

NewYork-Presbyterian Retiree Nurses Fight Back and Win

Before the ink had even dried on their new contract, nurses and retirees had to fight for NewYork-Presbyterian to deliver on their agreements. Retiree nurses gathered outside CEO Dr. Steven Corwin’s Manhattan apartment on Feb. 2 to demand NewYorkPresbyterian leadership refrain from doubling healthcare rates for retirees and violating the new contract. They previously organized a speak-out and sit-in, by sleeping overnight in the hospital lobby and demanded hospital administrators honor the healthcare premium rates that were previously confirmed after their contract was ratified. With the enrollment deadline looming, retirees called on Corwin to respect retirees and stop increasing healthcare costs. Nurses demanded hospital administrators honor the healthcare premium rates that were confirmed before and after their new contract was ratified.

In sum, nurses and retirees at NewYork-Presbyterian have been fighting against management’s attempts to double the cost of retiree health benefits in violation of their new contract.

On March 10, an arbitrator ruled in favor of nurses and retirees. The ruling secures retirees’ agreed-upon health benefits and stops management’s infringement. NYSNA applauds all the active and retired members who kept the pressure on by speaking out, holding demonstrations and delivering petitions to leadership to defend retirees’ health benefits.

samaritan Nurses Win New Contract

Samaritan Medical Center nurses in Watertown have ratified a new three-year contract. The agreement provides a tremendous win for safe staffing with enforceable staffing ratios throughout the hospital. Additionally, nurses received unprecedented increases to base pay, shift differential, charge and preceptor pay. This was the first contract that Samaritan nurses negotiated since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The contract win came on the heels of a successful informational picket on Thursday, Feb. 2, when hundreds of nurses rallied in front of the hospital to demand safe staffing and a fair contract.

The cold and snow did not deter Samaritan nurses from marching and making their voices heard. Nurses marched and demanded enforceable safe staffing standards and a real plan to hire and retain enough nurses to support quality care.

During the event, nurses spoke out about the understaffing crisis throughout the hospital, especially on medical-surgical, critical care, and mental health units, and in the emergency department. Their info-picket garnered widespread press attention and built momentum as they headed back to the bargaining table.