Buffalo Nurses Win Access to New York’s Groundbreaking Paid Family Leave Program

Last week, NYSNA nurses at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) voted overwhelmingly to opt in to New York’s Paid Family Leave program. The program serves as a critical resource for workers in New York, offering job protection and paid time off after the birth of a child, when a member of their household is sick, or if a family member is overseas on deployment.  

Earlier this year, nurses successfully pressured ECMC management to agree to provide this essential benefit. While private sector workers are automatically included in the Paid Family Leave program, public sector workers must lobby their employers for access to the program. NYSNA nurses at ECMC saw the potential good of the program and were able to bargain with management to get them to agree to offer the Paid Family Leave program to all union nurses.  

The Campaign to Educate Members

After winning agreement from management to offer Paid Family Leave, nurses also needed a majority of members to vote to opt in to the program. Nurses made rounds throughout the hospital, talking to their colleagues about the critical need for this type of leave in both planned and unplanned situations and answering questions.  

Roget Trusdale, RN, who is currently expecting a child, said “I have the worries of how I’m going to be able to afford to stay home. If I had the paid family leave now, it would make things a lot easier.” With the additional three months of paid leave that the program offers, Roget’s maternity leave would double, giving her more time to bond with her newborn and recover from giving birth.  

In addition to their work on the ground, nurses also recorded videos for social media about their vote to opt in and why public sector nurses deserve access to the program. Check out one of those videos here.

After two days of voting, the vast majority of members voted to opt in to the Paid Family Leave program. Now, thanks to the hard work and dedication of NYSNA members at ECMC, all nurses at the hospital now have access to this groundbreaking—and potentially life-changing—benefit. Congratulations, ECMC nurses!