Albany Med Nurses Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify New Contract

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center ratified a new four-year contract, with 98% of members voting yes. This new contract comes after more than a year of tireless advocacy by NYSNA nurses and delivers on key demands for 1,600 nurses at the hospital.

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• Enforceable safe staffing ratios that will protect safe patient care.
• Major wage increases including 16%-22% first-year wage increase upon ratification, market parity increases in 2 more years of the contract, additional 3% annual increases in the following years, and no wage caps for experienced nurses.
• Improved union voice and protections.  

Jennifer Bejo, RN, and local union president at Albany Med said, “This is a new day for nurses at Albany Medical Center. Union nurses showed what we can accomplish on behalf of our patients and colleagues when we work together and advocate. I am so proud of what we have achieved and feel hopeful that our new contract will help recruit and retain more nurses to improve staffing and patient care at Albany Med.”

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said, “Albany Med plays a major role in healthcare in the capital region and beyond, and the hardworking Albany Med nurses finally have a contract that’s worthy of a regional academic medical center. They showed the entire state that when we fight, we win.”

The wage increases will establish Albany Med as the industry leader in the capital region and help to retain experienced nurses who were previously disincentivized by wage caps. CBS6 , the Albany Times Union, News 10, Becker Hospital Review, WAMC, Spectrum News and more covered the contract victory. 

Congratulations, Albany Med nurses! This victory was hard-fought — for the past year, nurses have been speaking out about the staffing crisis at your hospital and its devastating impact on patient care in the capital region. They’ve held town hall meetings and community forums, met with elected officials, and garnered the support of allies far and wide.

But most importantly, they’ve proven that when we fight, we win!