Nurses who took a stand for quality care reach agreement at Southside Hospital

BAY SHORE, July 10, 2012 – At Bay Shore’s Southside Hospital, 640 nurses today have ratified a new contract that they say will help the hospital keep attracting talented and experienced nurses.

The new contract includes language that mandates a rapid response by the hospital when more nurses are needed on a unit – a critical protection for patients.

The new contract also maintains health and retirement benefits for current and future nurses, and raises base pay for nurses over 10 percent in three years.

During a bitter set of negotiations, Southside RNs warned that an unfair deal would make it harder to recruit and retain new nurses. They took that message to the public and their patients at an informational picket on June 13.

“Our NYSNA nurses are the heart of Southside Hospital,” said Virginia Meyers, president of the nurses’ union at the facility. “This deal will make sure we care for the caregivers who are already here, and help our hospital recruit new caregivers as we grow.”

Southside is part of the North Shore - Long Island Jewish system of hospitals.

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

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