NYSNA Update: October 9, 2026
Adirondack Medical Center Nurses Hold First Informational Picket in 25 Years to Demand a Fair Contract
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, NYSNA nurses at Adirondack Medical Center held an informational picket to demand that hospital management settle a fair contract that protects patient care in the North Country! Earlier this summer, nurses made history by holding a speak-out, the first public action at the hospital in 25 years; Wednesday’s informational picket was the first held in that same time frame. NBC 5, ABC 22, WAMC and Adirondack Daily Enterprise covered nurses’ historic informational picket.
For nearly a year, Adirondack nurses have been bargaining for a fair contract that includes the affordable health benefits necessary to recruit and retain qualified nurses. Nurses are seeking entry to the NYSNA Benefit Fund, which would provide affordable healthcare for nurses and their families instead of their current insurance: an expensive, employer-provided plan. NYSNA members have reported being denied medically necessary care, including cancer treatments, and many nurses with families have opted to enroll their children in Child Health Plus, New York’s free or low-cost health insurance plan for children, because Adirondack’s plan is unaffordable.
At the picket, NYSNA Second Vice President and Adirondack nurse Bill Schneider, BSN, RN, CCRN, said, “Today we demand that management listen to nurses and settle the fair contract that this community deserves: a contract that will help us recruit and retain enough nurses to ensure North Country residents have access to the safe, high-quality patient care they know and deserve!”
Don’t give up the fight, Adirondack nurses!
NYSNA Members at NYP-Gracie Square Hospital Hold Informational Picket to Demand a Fair Contract
On Thursday, Oct. 8, dozens of NYSNA members from NewYork-Presbyterian Gracie Square Hospital held an informational picket calling on hospital management to agree to a fair contract that addresses chronic understaffing and strengthens protections from workplace violence. Nurses also held a press conference in the morning, where they were joined by labor and elected allies, including New York State Assembly Members Keith Powers and Alex Bores; New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez; and Brendan Griffith, president of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Upper East Site covered the press conference.
Check out photos of the picket on the NYSNA Facebook page.
For months, Gracie Square nurses have been bargaining for the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve. At the table, nurses’ chief priorities are enforceable safe staffing language and improved protections against workplace violence, but management has proposed givebacks on both items. In response, nurses held this informational picket to show management that they will not back down from a fight, especially when nurse and patient safety are at stake! Keep up the great work, Gracie Square nurses!
NYSNA Members Gather for Bronx-Hudson Valley Interregional Meeting
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, nearly 100 NYSNA members from the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley gathered for an interregional meeting. Nurses gave updates on ongoing contract campaigns at Westchester Medical Center and Montefiore New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and Nyack hospitals, where staffing, ratio enforcement, wage parity and retiree health are hot topics. Montefiore Bronx and BronxCare nurses reflected on the struggle and gains from the strike and contract settlements — and the hard work of enforcing our agreements that begins as soon as the ink dries. Attendees reviewed this year’s proposed resolutions and are looking forward to the NYSNA Convention in a few short weeks!