NYSNA Update: April 17, 2026
Albany Med Nurses Speak Out to Defend Care at Columbia Memorial
On Wednesday, April 15, nurses from Albany Medical Center joined 1199 SEIU healthcare workers from Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) for an action to oppose Albany Med’s plan to cut beds and services at CMH. The Albany Med Health System, which operates CMH, is planning to drastically reduce beds at the facility and convert it to a critical access hospital. CMH is the only hospital in Columbia and Greene counties, though, and any reduction in beds and services would put patient care at risk across the entire capital region. Frontline caregivers explained how Albany Med’s plan follows a pattern of disinvestment in patients and the larger community and how converting CMH to critical access would force patients to seek care at an already-overwhelmed Albany Medical Center. This would put strain on emergency medical services and increase emergency room wait times. This is unacceptable, and nurses are in solidarity with 1199 caregivers who want to keep care local in their community! Spectrum, WNYT, CBS6 and News10 covered the event.
ECMC Members Are Fired Up!
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) nurses are getting fired up for two important campaigns — their campaign to secure paid family leave and their upcoming 2027 contract negotiations. To activate members, ECMC nurses are holding monthly membership meetings locally and lobbying to fight for the things that all our communities deserve at the state and national levels. At the National Nurses United federal lobby day in Washington, D.C., ECMC members joined other NYSNA members to fight for safe staffing, healthcare for all, taxing the wealthy and more. They marched with hundreds to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and met with Senators Chuck Schumer, Timothy Kennedy and Nick Langworthy. ECMC nurses know that we are stronger together!
UVM-CVPH Members Continue to Fight
University of Vermont-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (UVM-CVPH) members are currently bargaining for a fair contract. In their most recent bargaining session, they won historic workplace violence language, allowing members who experience workplace violence paid time to heal without having to use their own benefit time. However, management still isn’t listening to other high priorities and wants to take away any collaboration on staffing, decrease pay for night shift medical technologists and increase healthcare costs for members. UVM-CVPH members are saying enough is enough and are ready to do whatever it takes to get the fair contract nurses and patients deserve!