NYP-Gracie Square Hospital Nurses Picket for a Fair Contract
On Thursday, Oct. 8, NYSNA nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP)-Gracie Square Hospital held an informational picket to demand a fair contract that addresses chronic understaffing and strengthens protections from workplace violence. They were joined by allies and elected officials, including New York State Assembly Member Keith Powers, Assembly Member Alex Bores, Senator Kristen Gonzalez and President of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Brendan Griffith. Their action was covered by Upper East Site.
Gracie Square is one of New York City’s few hospitals dedicated to psychiatric care. NYSNA nurses have been bargaining with Gracie Square management for months, after their previous contract expired on May 31.
Nurses and Patients Deserve Safe Staffing and Protections from Violence
Almost 100 nurses work at Gracie Square, and they say work conditions are putting both nurses and patients at risk. NYSNA members have reported routine understaffing, excessive workloads and instances of violence resulting in injuries on the job. Despite nurses’ demands for these issues to be addressed in their new union contract, management has proposed givebacks at the bargaining table on workplace violence protections and is pushing back on safe staffing improvements. Nurses say that greater investment in both areas is needed to maintain safe, quality care for patients and a safe hospital environment for all. Gracie Square Hospital is part of NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP), one of the richest hospital systems in the city and state.
Mitch Rubin, RN, is the NYSNA Labor Bargaining Unit Vice Chair at Gracie Square. He says nightshift is of particular concern. “Sometimes on nightshift there are only two nurses when we’re supposed to have three. In mental health units, the night shift isn’t quiet – patients are up. Sometimes one of the two nurses is pulled onto another assignment, and then that leaves only one nurse at the nursing station, responsible for 30 patients. How can one nurse care for 30 patients? How can that nurse take a break? Yet when we brought this up in contract negotiations, the Chief Nursing Officer said this setup is safe! That's not okay.”
Nurses at Gracie Square are frequently injured on the job. At the informational picket, nurses shared stories of being bitten by patients, having things thrown at them and more incidents of violence resulting in broken collar bones, broken legs and other injuries. In their previous contract, nurses were paid while recovering from a workplace injury. In current bargaining, management is proposing to drastically reduce the paid time nurses may need to recover. NYSNA nurses will keep fighting these givebacks!
What’s Next?
NYSNA nurses will continue to bargain for a fair union contract that ensures safe quality care and keeps Gracie Square nurses and patients safe. As frontline healthcare workers and patient advocates, nurses know best what they need to deliver the safe, quality care that New York’s most vulnerable patients deserve. And as violence in healthcare settings rises across the country, it’s more important than ever that NYP invest in policies and protections necessary to keep everyone at the hospital safe. Keep up the good fight, Gracie Square nurses!
Show your support for Gracie Square nurses and patients by sending an email to Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Director Tim Garvey urging him to settle a fair contract now!