FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Jan. 6
Contact: Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
Eliza M. Bates | eliza.bates@nysna.org | 646-285-8491
Deal Improves Safe Staffing Levels, Wages, and Preserves Benefits
Maimonides Nurses Ratify New Contract in Overwhelming 93% Vote
New York, NY—Friday evening, NYSNA nurses reached a tentative agreement with Flushing Hospital Medical Center on a new contract.
Highlights of the agreement include:
- Full ratio-based safe staffing grid
- Improved staffing arbitration and enforcement
- A three-year contract with salary increases of 7%, 6%, and 5%
- Preservation of NYSNA healthcare and pension benefits
The tentative agreement at Flushing follows agreements at NewYork-Presbyterian, Maimonides and Richmond University Medical Center. Approximately 470 nurses work at Flushing.
NYSNA Director at Large Michelle Jones, RN, MSN, ANP-C said, “At Flushing, we are proud to join our NYSNA siblings at the other NYC private sector hospitals who have won great tentative agreements. We are one union united to win, and our bargaining committee is recommending a yes vote for this new contract.”
Tonight, more progress was made toward winning fair contracts for nurses and patients. Nurses at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn completed their vote to ratify their new contract—with 93% voting in favor to approve the new contract.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “My members at Maimonides are so excited to sign off on the best contract that we have ever had. This contract helps demonstrate our hospital’s respect for nurses and our patients. We are excited that Maimonides came to the table in good faith and showed its respect for our hardworking members who have put their lives on the line throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our main goals of saving our healthcare, improving patient care through making gains on safe staffing, and increasing wages were all achieved, and more. We hope this agreement sets a standard for Brooklyn hospitals and for New York City’s safety net hospitals.”
Ratification voting will be completed at NewYork-Presbyterian on Saturday, Jan. 7, at Richmond University Medical Center on Monday, Jan. 9 and at Flushing Hospital Medical Center on Monday, Jan. 9.
NYSNA NYC nurses continue to bargain at four other hospitals in advance of the Jan. 9 strike start date. Those hospitals are BronxCare Health System, Montefiore Bronx, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mount Sinai Morningside and West.
NYSNA will hold a press briefing tomorrow, Jan. 7 from 11:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m. with NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN.
This short briefing will provide an update about what is happening with contract negotiations at hospitals that will strike beginning Jan. 9 unless tentative contract agreements can be reached. There will be opportunities to ask questions.
The briefing will be recorded and distributed to members of the press who register at the link below. You must register below to attend.
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The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide. For more information, visit nysna.org.
