Nurses Speak Out Against Wynn Hospital Plan to Open with Too Few Nurses and Proposed Cuts
NYSNA nurses and community allies gather at Wynn to speak out against Mohawk Valley Health System understaffing and proposed cuts to nurse pay and benefits
Nurses and labor allies demand a fair agreement now to recruit and retain nurses for safe patient care
Contact: Anna Sterling | anna.sterling@nysna.org | 646-673-0419
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
Utica, New York— On Oct. 29, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is planning to open the new Wynn Hospital in downtown Utica. But MVHS has failed to reach an agreement with the nurses who will staff the new hospital, proposing wage cuts, increases to healthcare costs, and reductions to retirement contributions. At the same time, there are approximately 200 vital staff nurse positions that remain vacant, creating a potential crisis of care before the new hospital has even opened its doors.
WHO: Nurses and healthcare professionals of the New York State Nurses Association, City Councilmember Celeste Friend, labor and community allies
WHAT: Speak-out against MVHS proposed cuts to night shift differentials, increases to health care premiums and uneven wage scales
WHERE: Wynn Hospital, 111 Hospital Drive, Utica, New York 13502
WHEN: Tuesday, October 17 at 12:00 p.m.
Since the nurses at MVHS hospitals Faxton St. Luke's and St. Elizabeth’s voted in July to merge into one union, they have been negotiating with hospital management over the terms of employment for the merged bargaining unit.
Nurses believe cuts to their pay and benefits will make it even more difficult to recruit and retain nurses. At a time when there are potentially too few nurses to deliver quality care in the new hospital, nurses and allies will raise concerns and demand a fair agreement that respects Utica nurses and patients.
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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.
