Nistel nurses to hold protest on Tuesday over contract talks

KINGSTON, Dec. 16, 2010 – Registered nurses employed by Nistel, Inc. will hold an informational picket on Tuesday, Dec. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to protest the lack of progress in their current contract negotiations.

The picket will be held by the entrance of Kingston Hospital at 396 Broadway. Nistel RNs voted in April 2009 to join the New York State Nurses Association and are negotiating their first contract.

Nistel, Inc. is a for-profit “leasing” company, employing 50 registered nurses who work at Benedictine and Kingston hospitals and Foxhall Ambulatory Surgery Center. It was formed by management at Benedictine and Kingston shortly after the Benedictine RNs filed for an election to be represented by the Nurses Association in June 2008.

The Nurses Association has found it necessary to file unfair labor practice charges against Nistel management for its conduct during these negotiations. Nistel management has attempted to make unilateral changes in the nurses’ terms and conditions of employment, withheld information requested by the union it was legally obligated to provide, cancelled negotiating sessions at the last minute, and walked out of contract talks after refusing to discuss topics on the table.

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is the state's largest professional association and largest union for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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