LICH midwives, nurse practitioners vote to join Nurses Association

BROOKLYN, April 8, 2009 – Midwives and nurse practitioners employed by Long Island College Hospital (LICH) voted Tuesday to join the New York State Nurses Association.

The facility’s other 450 RNs at LICH have been represented by the Nurses Association since 1984. The midwife and nurse practitioner positions were added since then and were not a part of the original bargaining unit.

Over the years, the midwives and nurse practitioners had expressed a strong desire to become members of the Nurses Association.

“I’m passionate about education, children, and providing affordable health care,” said Rhonda James-Rodney, RN, a site coordinator for LICH’s school-based health clinics. “The Nurses Association has expertise in issues that affect our practice as registered nurses and has a better understanding of the specific problems we encounter on a daily basis in our practice.”

“Because there are only four of us in school health, we don't have much leverage with which to negotiate our salaries,” said Abby Wolfson, RN, a pediatric nurse practitioner who works in LICH's school-based health program. “I believe that if all the NPs and midwives band together to negotiate through the Nurses Association, we could have a lot more power to negotiate for fairer salaries, and recognition of years of experience, certification, and education.”

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 36,000 members, it is the state's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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