Victory for Long Island Nurses and Patients!

After months of stalled negotiations, NYSNA nurses at Northwell/Huntington, Northwell/Plainview, and Northwell/Syosset Hospitals have reached full tentative agreements with management, successfully averting a nurses strike on Long Island. Nurses from all three facilities worked incredibly hard to secure contracts that ensure quality care for Long Island patients; Plainview nurses settled late on the night of Thursday, Jan. 8, with Huntington and Syosset nurses joining them in settling over the weekend.  

These hard-fought victories come after months of dealing with Northwell’s stalling tactics and disrespect at the bargaining tables, in addition to union busting actions. In December, nurses joined forces to hold a Northwell Nurses United speak-out and rally at Northwell headquarters in defense of safe, quality patient care.  

Nurses at all three hospitals are proud of the unity they displayed during this campaign and are hopeful that the contracts will improve patient care in their communities. Highlights of the contracts include:

• Improved staffing safe staffing standards at all three hospitals, and safe staffing standards for the first time at Northwell/Huntington.
• Approximately 5% annual wage increases each year of the contract at all three hospitals.
• Maintained good health benefits for nurses, and improved pension and retiree health at Plainview Hospital. 

What’s Next?

Ratification votes are set to take place at all three hospitals this week. Though Long Island nurses are proud of the work they put in to settle these contracts and relieved to not be going on strike, they know there is more work to be done to advocate for safe staffing. They remain in solidarity with their NYSNA siblings in New York City. Negotiations continue at four private sector hospitals in New York City, and unless an agreement is reached, nearly 15,000 nurses are set to go on strike on Monday, Jan. 12.