NYSNA Launches “Nurses Care for New York” Campaign
On Thursday, Aug. 14, hundreds of NYSNA nurses representing 20,000 members from 12 private sector facilities across New York City came together to announce a coordinated campaign to care for New York through winning a fair contract. They met for a full-day strategy session to launch their bargaining platform for the coming 2025 contract fight! After a full day of solidarity, strategizing, and building power, nurses are excited to bring the lessons learned and energy felt back to their facilities as they gear up to negotiate fair contracts for New York City nurses and patients.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, kicked off the bargaining conference by reminding nurses of the historic gains made during the last contract campaign, gains that inspired nurses throughout the state and throughout the country to fight for stronger union protections. She also reaffirmed NYSNA’s commitment to protect healthcare access for patients in the face of looming budget cuts. Nurses then introduced and adopted the five-point platform that will guide this contract fight:
- Quality patient care through enforceable safe staffing.
- Defend access to care when our patients’ healthcare services and staff are under attack.
- Protect nurses so we can continue to care for you.
- Every patient deserves a real nurse.
- Fair wages and benefits to recruit and retain nurses.
A Platform That Meets the Moment
This platform captures nurses' top priorities in this political moment. Enforceable safe staffing remains the No. 1 issue; however, defending access to care has also become critical at a time when the federal government has approved disastrous cuts to Medicaid and other social safety net programs. Nurses are also ready to fight for safer working conditions and against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare settings—namely the implementation of AI without input from nursing staff. Finally, while employers seem eager to use government cuts to announce reductions to staff and services, nurses know that prioritizing profits over patients doesn’t keep New Yorkers safe and healthy. NYSNA nurses will continue to fight for the resources and staffing necessary to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the safe, quality patient care that they deserve.
Ready to Fight and Win the Contract New Yorkers Deserve
While the political reality of budget cuts and attacks on healthcare seems daunting, NYSNA nurses have already accomplished historic victories under the challenging post-COVID-19 conditions of the last contract fight. Several labor and elected allies joined nurses at the campaign launch, including: New York City Democratic Mayoral Nominee and Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and New York City Central Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Janella Hinds. In their remarks and throughout the day, our allies expressed their deep respect for nurses and shared their support for our fight to defend healthcare and protect our fellow New Yorkers. The energy and engagement at the bargaining conference showed that NYSNA nurses are ready to unite, organize and fight to defend healthcare, protect patients and win the fair contracts nurses deserve.
Building Public Awareness and Support
Over Labor Day weekend, nurses launched a major advertising campaign across New York City in support of upcoming contract negotiations. New Yorkers will now see nurses—and hear nurses’ voices—on billboards in every borough, through ads on buses and in subways, and via television and radio ads. Nurses hope that the campaign will build awareness of the role they play in keeping New Yorkers safe and healthy every single day. The campaign also rolled out a new website, where New Yorkers can learn more about the campaign.
Show your solidarity with nurses by visiting the Nurses Care for New York website to learn more and sign the campaign pledge!