NYSNA Update: March 13, 2026
NYSNA Nurses Make Their Voices Heard at the Capitol!
On Tuesday, March 10, NYSNA members from across New York traveled to Albany for our annual lobby day! Members made sure that our elected officials heard nurses’ and healthcare workers’ voices and demands with a rally for safe, quality patient care in the morning and an afternoon of meetings with our state legislators. NYSNA members are patient advocates, first and foremost, and that’s why we are demanding that New York:
- Ensure that all New Yorkers have high-quality healthcare and pass the New York Health Act.
- Raise revenues to fund healthcare.
- Improve safe staffing levels and enforcement of our state’s staffing laws.
- Protect nursing practice standards and patient safety.
- Fix Tier 6.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said, “After winning a historic strike in New York City that secured strong contracts that improve patient care, we’re taking our call to the halls of power at the state level to ensure that patients are defended and nurses are able to give the best care possible. The federal attacks on healthcare will strip coverage from more than a million New Yorkers. But New York state has the opportunity to step in and do the right thing to safeguard care by ensuring that your care is not determined by your ZIP code, nationality, gender identity and more. The moment to take action is now!”
State lawmakers must deliver an equitable budget to support the communities and healthcare workers who need it most! We will take this electric energy back to our hospitals and ensure that our coworkers join us in the fight to protect healthcare. CBS6 covered the action.
NYSNA Nurses at WMC-HealthAlliance Speak Out Against Workplace Violence
On Wednesday, March 11, nurses held a press conference to discuss the vital need for protection from workplace violence after a violent incident led to a hospital-wide lockdown at Westchester Medical Center’s (WMC) HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston. Nurses have been bargaining for months and demanding a contract that ensures enforceable safe staffing standards, protections against workplace violence, and wages and benefits that help recruit and retain nurses. While workplace violence protections have been at the forefront of their demands, hospital management has refused to address their safety concerns. Spectrum, WAMC, and The Daily Freeman covered the speak out. Nurses made their message loud and clear and will keep fighting until they get the contract they deserve!
Over 15,000 Unionists Gather for Historic Fix Tier 6 Rally
NYSNA nurses from across the state joined 15,000 public sector workers in Albany for a rally to #FixTier6! All workers deserve to retire with dignity and respect, especially those who serve New York! Legislators need to fix tier 6 NOW to recruit and retain enough nurses to work in our public hospitals and to keep workers in the public sector!
NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane, RN, CNOR(e), said: “Having good benefits is essential to recruiting and retaining the skilled nurses and frontline healthcare workers who New Yorkers depend on for their care. The public sector often lags behind the private sector in pay. Without strong pension and other benefits, public sector healthcare workers will continue to leave public service. That’s why it’s time to fix Tier 6!”