NEW YORK NURSE: July/August 2007
by Mark Genovese
NYSNA members at the Westchester County Healthcare Corporation (WCHCC) were outraged over the county’s cancellation on June 29 of a bus advertisement supporting their campaign for a fair contract.
The ad featured three smiling nurses with the message: “We save lives every day. Westchester Medical Center nurses need a FAIR contract. It’s a matter of RESPECT.” It was rejected by the county, which claimed the ad was controversial.
The county transportation commissioner said there was no pressure from the county executive to reject the ad, but added that policy forbids several types of advertisements on the bus line, including ads that advocate positions about controversial public issues.
The Republican caucus of the Westchester County Board of Legislators issued a statement supporting the nurses, calling this action “a blatant violation of the principles of free speech.” The caucus demanded in the accompanying press release that County Executive Andrew Spano stop trying to censor nurses at the Westchester Medical Center.
“It’s bad enough that the nurses feel as if they have to pay to be heard but then the county executive decides if you disagree with him, he will silence you,” said Minority Leader George Oros. “That’s just wrong in every way.”
“We already have a shortage of nurses. The county executive’s contempt for our nurses can only make it more difficult for the Medical Center to recruit and keep the best nurses,” added legislator Jim Maisano.
For more than a year, NYSNA has been trying to resolve developing problems that it believes will threaten the quality of care at the medical center. Medical center officials, however, are demanding givebacks in the nurses’ retirement-health benefit plan. NYSNA believes such radical givebacks will put the medical center in a less-competitive position to recruit registered nurses and could worsen staff shortages, which would, in turn, affect the quality of care patients receive.
NYSNA is reviewing its options about fighting the rejection, and is investigating whether it can file a claim on First Amendment grounds.
In the meantime, NYSNA has been running an advertising campaign in conjunction with public protests during hospital-sponsored public events – such as its annual triathlon, its 30th anniversary party, and a community fundraiser. The nurses have invited other area labor and community organizations to join them.