NYSNA Update: September 4, 2026
Adirondack Nurses Hold Strong in the Fight for a Fair Contract
Last week, NYSNA nurses from Adirondack Medical Center hung a banner in Saranac Lake, calling on community members to support nurses’ fight for a fair contract. But within hours, the banner disappeared from the spot where nurses hung it. After months of bargaining with management, Adirondack nurses refused to be deterred, though, and later that week, they hung a replacement banner in the same spot, once again calling on community members to take action. Members are fired up after the disappearance of their banner and even more steadfast in their demands for a contract that includes affordable healthcare benefits for frontline nurses and their families and ensures safe, quality care for their community. Keep up the good fight, Adirondack nurses!
Northwell Putnam Hospital Nurses Launch Community Petition
For months, NYSNA nurses at Northwell Putnam Hospital have been bargaining for a fair contract that includes enforceable safe staffing standards. This is Putnam nurses’ first time bargaining with Northwell Health, their new employer, and hospital administrators are pushing for nurse-to-patient ratios that would make it harder for nurses to deliver the quality care their community deserves. This week, to build support for their campaign, nurses launched a community petition, calling on Putnam County residents to amplify nurses’ contract demands. Keep up the great work, Putnam nurses.
Show your support for NYSNA nurses at Northwell Putnam Hospital by signing their petition here.
Despite Widespread Pushback, Montefiore AI Layoffs Take Effect
Earlier this year, Montefiore announced a plan to lay off utilization review nurses and replace them with an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software created by Datavant, a private equity-backed technology company with a history of data breaches. In response, NYSNA members organized a town hall meeting in July to sound the alarm on Montefiore’s plan and to pressure the health system to reverse course. Community members, advocates and elected officials joined the town hall and spoke in support of NYSNA members impacted by the layoffs.
Despite the support nurses received during and after the virtual town hall, Montefiore moved forward with its plan, and the layoffs took effect this week. NYSNA nurses at Montefiore refuse to give up, though, and are challenging the layoffs, which violate the contract that nurses settled earlier this year by going on strike.
AI can never replace experienced nurses’ clinical knowledge, so NYSNA nurses at Montefiore will continue to fight against this terrible decision. Don’t give up, Monte nurses; all 45,000 NYSNA members are with you as you fight to protect our patients and our practice from AI and corporate greed!