NYSNA Update: June 18, 2026
Victory for UVM-Alice Hyde Medical Center Nurses!
On Wednesday, June 17, University of Vermont-Alice Hyde nurses showed up to bargaining in force to send a clear message to management: “We are united for a fair contract!” The members wore their NYSNA stickers and packed the room. After a late night at the bargaining table, the nurses prevailed! They won a new four-year agreement that maintains their health benefits, delivers fair wages to help recruit and retain nurses for safe staffing, and improves protections from workplace violence, artificial intelligence and layoffs. Now, they are scheduling their ratification vote and hoping their contract victory builds momentum for other North Country NYSNA members at UVM-CVPH and Adirondack Medical Center who continue to fight for fair contracts. Congrats, Alice Hyde nurses!
Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital Nurses Speak Out to Demand Safe Staffing and a Fair Contract
On Tuesday, June 16, NYSNA nurses at Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital held a speak-out to demand a fair contract that includes enforceable safe staffing language. For months, nurses have been bargaining with Northwell Health, their new employer, but management refuses to include staffing language in the contract and recently proposed new ratios that would make staffing worse across the hospital. To push back on these proposed changes that would make staffing less safe and to amplify their demands for a fair contract, nurses held a speak-out with allies.
New York State Senator Pete Harkam, Assembly Member Matt Slater, Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body Executive Director and Westchester County Legislator Jen Puja, and Vice-President of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body Marty Sommer joined nurses at the speak-out. Nurses’ action received coverage in Mid-Hudson News, the Yonkers Times and News12. Keep up the great work fighting to defend patient care in your community, Putnam nurses!
UVM-CVPH Healthcare Workers Take Action to Save Adirondack Blood Donor Center
On June 9, the University of Vermont Healthcare Network announced system-wide layoffs and service closures, including the closure of the Adirondack Blood Donor Center. The Center serves the residents of 3 counties and provides 95% of blood used at UVM’s New York hospitals, in addition to non-UVM hospitals in Saranac Lake and Glens Falls. When NYSNA members at CVPH learned of the potential closure, they immediately jumped into action. This week they organized a sticker action to send a message to hospital management: “Don’t bleed us dry!” Alongside their sticker action, nurses launched a digital petition, demanding that CVPH keep the Blood Donor Center open to protect good union jobs and patient care in their community. Show your support for CVPH healthcare workers by signing their petition here.