NEW YORK NURSE: May 2008
by Mark Genovese
“The solution to the problems we face on the clinical units will not be forthcoming from the management that continues to turn a deaf ear and blind eye to the true picture,” said Susan Casadone of St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers.
This was Casadone’s first address as president of the Congress, which held its semi-annual meeting April 14 at NYSNA’s headquarters in Latham. She said that in the aftermath of NYSNA’s disaffiliation from the United American Nurses, association members must now focus on the future.
“We, as the leaders in our bargaining units, need to find a way to awaken the minds and raise the conscience of the public. In order to accomplish that, we first need to incorporate the membership,” Casadone said. “Over and over again we have seen the results of the formidable force of individuals coming together to fight oppression and injustice. The time has come for us to realize that the profession of nursing will not exist to serve those who need us unless we stand up and reclaim our position.”
Lolita Compas, most recently chair of NYSNA’s bargaining unit at Cabrini Medical Center, discussed the heartbreaking ordeal that she and her colleagues faced as a result of the hospital’s haphazard shutdown in March. It left hundreds of RNs with bounced paychecks, canceled health insurance, and no severance pay. Compas thanked NYSNA and staff for their support during a difficult time. NYSNA has charged the hospital with unfair labor practice and is pursuing remuneration for the nurses.