Oneida Nurses Meet with State Legislators, Continue to Turn Up the Heat on Management
Since the beginning of the year, NYSNA nurses at Oneida Health have been fighting to protect patient care in their community, and for the fair contract that both nurses and patients deserve. While management has dragged its feet, even refusing to return to the negotiating table at one point, nurses have turned up the heat, enlisting elected officials and community allies in their fight for a new contract.
Earlier this year, after management walked away from the bargaining table, nurses at Oneida Health marched on the boss and held both a speak-out and information picket, demanding that management return to the table, negotiate in good faith, and settle a fair contract with safe staffing and a real plan to retain nurses for safe patient care. In between the speak-out and the informational picket, nurses also engaged a federal mediator to get management back to the table and filed an unfair labor practice against management for refusing to bargain in person.
Nurses Enlist Allies to Put Pressure on Management
And now, as Oneida Health nurses are turning the heat up once again. On Thursday, July 10, nurses from Oneida Health met with New York State Senator Joe Griffo and New York State Assembly Member Brian Miller to discuss their campaign and the need for a fair contract for nurses in their community. With patient care as their number one goal, and Oneida Health being one of the only hospitals in the region, it is crucial that nurses secure a new contract with a real plan to recruit and retain nurses that includes competitive wages and benefits.
Historically, nurses at Oneida Health have been among the lowest paid in the region, and that’s led to serious problems at the hospital when it comes to nurse recruitment and retention. Oneida nurses care deeply about their community and want to ensure that they can earn a livable wage while taking care of their friends, families, and loved ones. They also want to ensure that the hospital can attract qualified, experienced nurses, something the hospital has struggled to do in recent years.
Flooding Airwaves and Inboxes
As part of the plan to continue to put pressure on management, new radio ads launched in early July on WIBX-AM in support of NYSNA nurses at Oneida Health! Nurses refuse to back down on their demands for hospital executives to prioritize patient care over profits and are taking to the airwaves to share that message with the community.
Nurses have also launched a public letter writing campaign, targeting Oneida Health CEO Felissa Koernig, JD, MBA, FACHE, to engage the community that they care so deeply about and are fighting to protect. You can take action today to show your support for NYSNA nurses at Oneida Health by sending a letter to Oneida Health management, demanding that they return to the table and settle a fair contract now!
The time has come for Oneida Health to stop putting profits over patients and invest in the health of their community!