NYP-Brooklyn Methodist Nurses Escalate Campaign for a Fair Contract
NYSNA nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP)-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital are intensifying their fight for a fair contract. With their contract expired as of April 30, 2026, and over a dozen bargaining sessions behind them, they are stepping on the gas to win a fair contract that protects nurse and patient safety.
On May 26, dozens of nurses gathered with community, labor and faith allies at a candlelight vigil to bring awareness to rising workplace violence at the hospital. Nightshift emergency department nurse Jolie Tuma, RN, spoke out and described how the ED is increasingly busy and understaffed, with mental health patients sometimes languishing there for a week. Veronica Carnero, RN, described how callous management was when she was injured by a patient at work—an injury that has kept her away from the bedside and delivered a financial hit. She called for better staffing and workplace violence protections, including paid time off to deal with medical and legal issues that result from workplace violence.
The vigil was incredibly moving, with the crowd of people holding candles and singing along to live music from a pastor and musician from the Poor Peoples Campaign. New York City Central Labor Council President Brendan Griffith brought a message of solidarity from the city’s labor movement, saying that, “In healthcare, violence should not be business as usual.”
On the day of the vigil, elected leaders sent an open letter to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and NYP-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital executives to “express strong support for the nurses at your facility and to urge the hospital administration to bargain in good faith and swiftly reach a fair contract.”
Several recent incidents of workplace harassment and violence have focused NYP-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital nurses on improving safety at the hospital and built support from local elected officials. On May 8, hundreds of nurses held an informational picket and spoke out for a fair contract alongside community and elected allies, including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Member Robert Carroll, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, City Council Member Shahana Hanif, and Churches United for Fair Housing.
On July 8, allies from community, faith, labor and advocacy groups representing the communities served by the hospital sent an open letter to Methodist’s executives. The letter calls for Dr. Brian G. Donley and Juan Mejia, MPH President to reach a fair contract with NYSNA nurses that “invests in safe staffing, protects its workers, and delivers the highest quality of care.” Nearly 100 nurses marched to hospital executives’ offices to deliver the letter, and over a dozen allies supported the action on social media.
The nurses have been building momentum and community support since April. On April 24, nurses showed their solidarity by wearing buttons at work reading “Fair Contact Now” and “Safe Nurses = Safe Patients.” On the same day, dozens of members gathered at bargaining to deliver a petition of their bargaining priorities to management signed by over 1,100 RNs. Earlier in the month, nurses reached out to the surrounding community about the workplace violence and contract struggle they face. Approximately 50 businesses have put up store signs in solidarity with NYSNA nurses.
Nurses know they have strong support in the Brooklyn community and are keeping their eye on the prize. Workplace violence and safe staffing remain the two priorities in this contract fight, and NYP-Brooklyn Methodist management is still falling short on their proposals in these areas. Nurses are not ready to give up the fight when it comes to improving safety and advocating for their patients and profession. Let’s go, NYP-Brooklyn nurses!