NYSNA Update: June 26, 2026
Montefiore Nurses Demand Respect During Labor-Management
On June 18, more than a dozen NYSNA nurses attended the Montefiore labor-management meeting to deliver an important message: “We demand respect!”
In the lead-up to the meeting, more than 500 Monte nurses signed a petition demanding accountability from a nursing director who insinuated that nurses had abandoned their patients and forgot their professional purpose during this winter's strike. NYSNA nurses spoke out about the damage these inaccurate and irresponsible comments have caused.
Despite nurses’ actions, management failed to apologize for the harm caused and wouldn’t commit to a public response. NYSNA nurses at Montefiore are going to ensure their demands are met by continuing to apply pressure until Montefiore remedies this director’s behavior!
Major Staffing Victory at Maimonides Medical Center
NYSNA nurses at Maimonides Medical Center won another major staffing victory. Through the hard work, determination and advocacy of NYSNA nurses on surgical units 8 East and 8 West (8E/8W), together with the NYSNA Executive Committee, they successfully utilized the new staffing enforcement process to hold management accountable and improve safe patient care.
As a result of this victory, management agreed to reduce the nurse-to-patient ratio on these units from 1:5 to 1:4, a very significant improvement that will enhance patient safety; improve working conditions; and support nurses in providing the quality care our patients deserve. Most importantly, this change will require the hospital to hire a number of additional full-time NYSNA nurses to properly staff 8E/8W and meet the new ratio requirements.
This victory did not happen by accident. The strong staffing enforcement language that the Executive Committee negotiated, the dedication of nurses who raised concerns and documented staffing issues, and the persistent advocacy of NYSNA nurses on the Staffing Committee made this all possible. Every staffing victory sends a clear message: When nurses stand together and use the tools we have fought to secure, we can win meaningful improvements for our patients and our profession.
Congratulations to the 8E/8W nurses and to the entire NYSNA Executive Committee for your leadership, commitment and perseverance. When we fight, we win!
Major Staffing Victory — 21 New Emergency Department Nursing Positions Won!
After years of fighting for safer staffing, Wyckoff Emergency Department nurses have secured a major victory: NYSNA nurses and the Executive Committee successfully held management accountable for chronic understaffing in the Emergency Department (ED).
After a mediation session, multiple canceled dates and extensive negotiations, Wyckoff management has agreed to hire 21 new NYSNA nurses for the ED in the coming months. As part of this agreement, ED nurses and the NYSNA Executive Committee will also return to mediation in October to pursue hiring an additional 10 nurses to achieve the overall staffing levels that our patients, community and nurses deserve.
Congratulations, Wyckoff nurses! This victory belongs to every nurse who documented unsafe conditions, attended meetings, participated in the staffing process, and stood together day in and day out working throughout this fight. The victory also belongs to the Wyckoff Executive Committee, which fought hard to win stronger and faster staffing enforcement language during negotiations!