NYSNA Update: March 7, 2025
South Shore Northwell Nurses Give Unfair Labor Practice Strike Notice
On Tuesday, March 4, nurses at Northwell Health/South Shore University Hospital marched on the boss to deliver an unfair labor practice strike notice. Nurses will go on strike on Monday, March 17, unless hospital administrators agree to a fair union contract that keeps enough experienced nurses at the bedside to provide safe patient care to Long Island patients. Instead of prioritizing negotiating a fair contract, the Northwell/South Shore administration has interfered with its employees’ federal labor law rights, including but not limited to engaging in retaliation, interrogation and surveillance of nurses. NYSNA filed unfair labor practice charges against the hospital on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The nurses’ union contract expired on Friday, Feb 28.
NYSNA nurses do not take striking lightly and see it as a last resort. They will continue urging Northwell to prioritize negotiating a fair contract with safe staffing, improved wages and benefits that will help recruit and retain nurses. South Shore nurses are ready and willing to meet with Northwell as often as it takes to come to an agreement and avoid a strike. Patch, News12 Long Island and Becker’s Hospital Review, covered the strike notice delivery.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 26, nurses held a speak-out at the hospital and announced that they voted in favor of authorizing an unfair labor practice strike by over 99%. NYSNA nurses at Northwell/Huntington Hospital and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital are also in active bargaining on Long Island. Over 2,500 NYSNA nurses at these three Long Island hospitals are united for quality care for all Long Island patients.
Common Council Passes Resolution Demanding That Albany Med Respect Nurses
On Monday, March 3, the Albany Common Council passed a resolution in support of NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center calling on hospital leadership to address the ongoing staffing and patient care crisis. After nearly one year of speaking out, the resolution is the latest in a renewed outpouring of support for nurses from labor and community allies in the capital region.
The resolution also comes on the heels of nurses uncovering a long-awaited, bombshell Department of Health (DOH) Staffing Deficiency Report, which shows more than 500 violations of the safe staffing law at the hospital.
On the same day the Council passed the resolution, the Albany Times-Union published an editorial blasting Albany Med for failing to acknowledge, let alone address, the issues in the DOH deficiency report.
NYSNA nurses notched another win when last week Region 3 of the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Albany Med, alleging that the hospital broke federal labor law and has refused to bargain with NYSNA in good faith by withholding crucial information about its use of travel nurses. Nurses have decried Albany Med’s overreliance on expensive temporary travel nurses instead of settling a fair contract that will help recruit and retain staff nurses.
It’s clear that the Albany community and elected officials are in solidarity with capital region nurses and patients who deserve a hospital administration that prioritizes safe, quality patient care over profits. NYSNA nurses are fighting to hold Albany Med accountable and finally win the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve.
H+H Nurses Take Action to Protest Unfair Sick Leave Policy Changes
NYC Health+Hospitals (H+H)/Mayorals members are continuing to fight back against NYC H+H’s new interpretation of its long-standing time and attendance policy that discourages them from using their sick leave. Nurses from H+H hospitals throughout New York City wore “If RNs Work Sick, You Can Get Sick” stickers to protest against the unfair, arbitrary and punitive changes of the nearly 40-year-old policy. This action follows the passage of a NYC H+H/Mayorals executive council resolution last month that called on members to initiate a campaign demanding the administration reaffirm the practice of having three or more consecutive sick days constitute a single occurrence. Members are fired up and ready to continue standing up for their health at the upcoming H+H Manhattan Annual Board meeting on March 18. Find out more in this informational flyer and RSVP to attend here. H+H nurses are also calling on the community to email H+H Hospital executives and call H+H CEO, Dr. Mitchell Katz to tell them to stop pressuring nurses to work sick!