NYSNA Update: July 3, 2025
NYSNA Condemns Congressional Approval of Extreme Cuts to Medicaid
This week, NYSNA nurses led rallies, press conferences and protests from Staten Island to Plattsburgh to Long Island to send a clear message to Congress: Kill the bill. The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed the Senate on Tuesday, July 1. And unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the final version of the bill passed the House of Representatives earlier this afternoon, making even deeper cuts to Medicaid than the original bill that the House passed in May. This disastrous bill also enriches millionaires and billionaires at the expense of working families.
In Staten Island, NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, joined National Nurses United’s (NNU) day of action to “Fund Care, Not Billionaires” on July 1. NYSNA and NNU nurses, union members and community allies rallied in front of Congress Member Nicole Malliotakis’ office to tell her to put her constituents above billionaires’ interests and vote no on the budget reconciliation bill.
On July 2, NYSNA Director-at-Large Marie Boyle, RN, spoke out in front of Long Island Representative Andrew Garbarino’s office to remind him that over 220,000 New Yorkers in his district rely on Medicaid. Garbarino was absent at the last vote, which passed the house by exactly one vote. Boyle and rally attendees called on him to show up for his constituents and vote no as the new, more extreme bill makes its way back to the House.
Finally, in Plattsburgh, NYSNA East Regional Director Vicki Davis-Courson, MSN, RN, joined union and community allies including 1199SEIU and Citizen Action to demand that Representative Elise Stefanik vote no on this new version of the bill to protect her North Country constituents. Under this bill, Stefanik’s district is in danger of seeing five hospital closures, a disaster for North Country patients.
Make no mistake, this bill will have a devastating impact on New York and will harm our most vulnerable patients. Read NYSNA’s full statement here. To learn more about the negative impact of this bill on New Yorkers’ access to care, hospital funding and jobs, read our latest fact sheet. Now that the vote is done, we must hold members of Congress who voted for this harmful bill accountable for choosing billionaires over working people and vulnerable communities. Nurses will not stop fighting and advocating for our patients, our communities, and our profession.
Oneida Nurses Continue Fight to Protect Patient Care
NYSNA nurses at Oneida Health are continuing to put the heat on management to return to the bargaining table and settle the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve. Despite finally agreeing to meet with a mediator, Oneida management has continued to fail to meet nurses’ demands for a fair contract with enforceable staffing standards, a plan to retain experienced nurses, and respectful wages and benefits. Support your fellow NYSNA members at Oneida Health by using this tool to send a letter to their CEO demanding that management return to the bargaining table and settle a fair contract now!
Online Registration Now Open for the 2025 NYSNA Convention: Strength in Solidarity!
Mark your calendars for the 2025 NYSNA Convention, where hundreds of NYSNA members will come together to decide our union’s direction. The 2025 convention will take place in Resorts World Catskills on Oct. 28 and 29. This year’s convention theme is “Strength in Solidarity.”
Register online here, or download and complete the registration form here. Check out the NYSNA website for the most up-to-date information on the convention. Deadline to submit Bylaws is Aug. 14, and deadline to submit resolutions is Aug. 29. Read the guidelines on drafting a resolution here. Stay tuned over the coming weeks for more information!