Brooklyn Hospital nurses are saying ‘NO!’ to pension cuts

Protesting management’s demands in front of hospital Wednesday

BROOKLYN, Feb. 18, 2011 – Registered nurses at Brooklyn Hospital are worried about their futures.

Hospital management is demanding the nurses change their current pension plan to one that they fear would greatly reduce their standard of living after retirement.

The RNs don’t think this is fair and will hold the first of several planned protests from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 23, in front of the hospital at 121 DeKalb Ave. in Fort Greene. The 500 RNs are represented by the New York State Nurses Association. Their most recent contract expired in December 2010.

Brooklyn Hospital nurses did their part five years ago to help the hospital out of bankruptcy – agreeing to freeze their wages and experience scale. But while these concessions were understood to be temporary, this alternative pension would force nurses to give up on thousands upon thousands of dollars in retirement savings for the rest of their lives. Nurses from the bargaining unit will be available during the demonstration to discuss the potential impact of the changes on the pension plan and their family finances.

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 union for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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