Northwell / Huntington Hospital Nurses Fight for a Fair Contract
NYSNA nurses at Huntington Hospital have been negotiating with Northwell Health management for a fair first contract with safe staffing standards, a plan to retain experienced nurses, and respectful wages and benefits. Nurses set a Spring deadline with management to get the strong contract they deserve, but Northwell has stalled on meeting nurses’ demands. On June 10, nurses organized an informational picket to show Northwell they are united for safe patient care and a fair contract.
Nurses at Northwell/Huntington Hospital have not only been focused on winning a fair contract at their facility; they have also supported other Long Island nurses in their contract fight. When Northwell/ South Shore University Hospital nurses voted to go on strike this past February, Huntington nurses showed up in solidarity and spoke out in support of South Shore nurses.
In turn, when Northwell nurses learned that Huntington management was unwilling to negotiate a fair contract on-site at the hospital or at NYSNA offices, NYSNA nurses from Northwell/South Shore and Northwell/Staten Island University Hospital joined in an email campaign to flood Northwell leadership’s inboxes and call on management to listen to Huntington nurses.
On Wednesday, May 14, Northwell/ Huntington nurses packed the room at their clinical staffing meeting to testify on the need for safe staffing in their units. And on Thursday, May 15, they marched on the boss with over 425 petition signatures from nurses demanding a fair contract, presenting their petition directly to their chief nursing officer and Northwell/Huntington Hospital’s CEO.
On June 10, Huntington nurses, NYSNA nurses from other Long Island facilities, labor and community allies, showed their strength and union power at an informational picket to demand safe staffing and a fair contract. The rain did not deter Huntington nurses from marching and making their voices heard.
During the information picket, nurses spoke out on the understaffing crisis at the hospital, especially in the emergency room and made it clear that they will not give up until Northwell agrees to a fair contract.
Huntington nurses are ready to come to an agreement, but if their bosses continue to stall, they are also prepared to escalate to win the contract they and their patients deserve.
See coverage of the picket on Huntington Now and News12.