NYSNA UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
NYSNA Nurses Applaud Final Vote to Approve Maimonides Merger
On Thursday, Sept. 17, nurses traveled to Albany once again for the final step in the Maimonides and NYC Health+Hospitals merger. After a lengthy review process and a public hearing where several NYSNA nurses gave testimony in support, the Public Health and Health Planning Council finally approved the merger! NYSNA nurses are excited for the future knowing Maimonides will see significant investments to address resource shortages, staffing ratios, recordkeeping and more. Great job to the nurses who made several trips to ensure their voices were heard!
ECMC Nurses Fight for Safe Staffing
NYSNA nurses at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) continue to take action with their campaign for safe staffing. ECMC nurses are dealing with chronically short-staffed departments across the hospital, including the emergency, behavioral health and comprehensive psychiatric emergency program departments. Nurses have been wearing red on Wednesdays and donning buttons with a QR code to submit Department of Health complaints.
On Thursday, Sept. 17, nurses gave a presentation on emergency department staffing and made sure new COO Casie Davis understood what needs to be done. Safe staffing isn't a request it's a demand! Management promised to post vacancies and find ways to expedite hiring more emergency department positions. We applaud the ECMC nurses for keeping up their fight demanding safe staffing now!
Nurses at ECMC, including Lona DeNisco, Geovanna DiGesare and Crystal Knihinicki, also led and participated in member leader training. Members practiced scenarios representing coworkers in disciplines and investigations, gaining a better understanding of the grievance process. ECMC nurses believe that an informed membership is a strong membership!
Get Ready to Get Out the Vote!
It's time to get out the vote! With just five weeks until early voting starts across the state, TEAM NYSNA will be hitting the phones and doors to elect nurse champions who we know will stand with us in our fights for safe staffing, fair contracts and health justice! Sign up for a GOTV canvas or a phone bank near you. Stay tuned for more exciting endorsement news next week!