NYC Private Sector Bargaining Campaign is Heating Up!
The campaign for fair contracts is heating up across all 12 NYSNA-represented private sector facilities in New York City. Bargaining is underway in multiple facilities, and members are wasting no time in making their voices heard. Nurses have been busy gearing up for their initial bargaining session, leading marches to deliver their facility’s petition, and presenting initial proposals.
NYSNA nurses from NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP), Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, and Montefiore Bronx marched on their respective bosses to deliver bargaining platform petitions signed by thousands of nurses. Nurses presented their initial proposals and expressed their commitment to do whatever it takes to win a contract that protects patient care and builds on the progress they made during their last campaign. Nurses across all facilities are focused on winning enforceable safe staffing, defending access to care, protecting nurses from workplace violence and other hazards, ensuring every patient gets a real nurse instead of AI or a virtual nurse, and securing fair wages and benefits to recruit and retain nurses.
A Strong Start
Nurses have also organized a shared demand that bargaining should be accessible and open to members. Nurses are already seeing some victories. After presenting a demand in September that bargaining should take place at or near the hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital nurses won management’s commitment to do so! At NYP, nurses have also won a commitment to weekly bargaining sessions, as well as a commitment to accessible bargaining locations.
NYSNA nurses at safety net facilities in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island are off to a strong start. BronxCare, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Flushing Hospital Center, Maimonides Medical Center, One Brooklyn Health nurses at Interfaith Medical Center and Kingsbrook Jewish, Richmond University Medical Center nurses, and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center nurses are gathering signatures for their platform petition and preparing for their first bargaining sessions. They are ready to fight for fair contracts for nurses and patients.
Showing the Public that We Care
NYSNA also launched an ad campaign to gain public support. This week, the ads have expanded to YouTube [LINK https://youtu.be/kLz6T88vQtk] and multiple streaming services, so hospital executives will be graced by NYSNA nurses’ presence as they stream their favorite shows. Ads have also been rolled out in various community papers in Manhattan, and are coming soon to the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Check out our latest powerful video of Kingsbrook nurse, Vivienne Phillips, RN, telling her story about why it’s critical to have enough nurses at the bedside.
Show you care by visiting NYSNA’s campaign website www.NursesCareforNY.org and share the pledge with friends and family to help build support for our campaign to ensure New York City private hospitals put patients before profits.