Together We Rise

NYSNA has been at our best and most powerful since we voted to transform our union over a decade ago. We broke down the artificial divides that separated our union work from our nurse practice work — divides that only limited nurse power. NYSNA members now make sure that our work to win great contracts that improve conditions for nurses and our patients is inseparable from our policy and political advocacy, our community engagement, and our practice resources and support for all members — public and private sector  — in every part of the state. 
With so many local issues in our workplaces, negative trends impacting healthcare and our practice, and even global issues that affect our lives, we work tirelessly in every part of our union to build upon our wins in one area to make progress in others. 
Whatever work we do at one facility or in one campaign is for the benefit of the entire union. If we win groundbreaking contract language at one facility, we immediately replicate that success in other contracts. Being organized in a union means we combine our experience, learning and power in numbers to lift all boats. If NYSNA nurses win laws for safe staffing or workplace violence, we then implement, organize around and enforce these new laws to improve nurse and patient safety. We educate our members so they can use new tools to the fullest extent. We continue to strategize about how to strengthen and build upon the laws we have in place so that they have the greatest impact for the greatest number of nurses and healthcare professionals. Indeed, our wins have reverberated beyond our members — helping to lift standards and empower all nurses in New York.

We Are in This Together

One of my favorite Convention themes was “Together We Rise,” because coming out of the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a reminder that as a union we can raise each other up. By joining together, we are powerful enough to overcome challenges, including a global pandemic. 
It also perfectly describes to me what being in a union is all about. We are all in this together. Our goal is to ensure that whatever fights we take on will have broad benefits for all members. In a large and diverse state like New York, NYSNA members won’t all face the exact same challenges. But we can work together to apply the lessons we have learned to collectively benefit one another.

Building On Our Wins

I saw this firsthand during the New York City nurse strike. Coordinating with nurses from 12 different hospitals, from struggling safety net hospitals to the wealthiest academic medical centers, was a challenge. Each local bargaining unit had slightly different priorities, although we shared a common platform and strategized together. 

We were able to build on the wins and lessons learned from previous contract cycles and other labor bargaining units. The major wage gains that Westchester Medical Center nurses won in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic set the stage for New York City private sector nurses’ market correction wage increases later in 2022. Those wins further built momentum for New York City Health+Hospitals/Mayorals nurses’ fight for pay parity in 2023. Against the odds and the wage pattern that the larger municipal unions set, our public sector nurses won the largest wage increase in NYSNA history, bringing their pay on par with that of their private sector siblings and stemming the hemorrhage of nurses leaving public hospitals for the private sector. 

In the most recent New York City private sector campaign, NYSNA nurses may not have been able to beat back takeaways and make progress in our contracts without building on the momentum from the last cycle and the December contract victories in the Northwell Long Island facilities. We achieved what we did by working together to win fair contracts that respected our differences while also setting some common goals. Striking a balance between honoring local priorities and the common good was challenging throughout the campaign and involved a lot of conversation and negotiation. I see that as a worthwhile challenge, because nurses are truly at our best when we learn from one another.

More Work Ahead

The history of the labor movement tells us that being in a struggle together is always a challenge, because we are going up against more powerful forces that want to divide us and limit worker power. It tells us that we make progress toward social, economic and racial justice through building upon our wins to achieve even more — and not just for one type of worker but for all workers and even for future generations.   

I feel incredibly proud when I think about how far nursing has come as a profession and the role that NYSNA nurses have played in that. I know we have a lot of work ahead of us to reach our long-term goals, but I feel privileged to be working with you all to keep on achieving more.