BREAKING: Long Island Nurses to go on Unfair Labor Practice Strike on March 17
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Contact: Andrea Penman-Lomeli | press@nysna.org | 347-559-3169
Diana Moreno | press@nysna.org | 917-327-2302
BREAKING: LONG ISLAND NURSES TO GO ON UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE STRIKE ON MARCH 17
Members at Northwell Health/South Shore University Hospital delivered a strike notice today on behalf of more than 900 nurses
Nurses are fighting to protect their federal labor rights and for quality care for Long Island, including safe staffing levels that guarantee enough nurses at the bedside and fair wages that keep experienced nurses on Long Island
Bay Shore, N.Y. – Today, Tuesday, March 4, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses at Northwell Health/South Shore University Hospital delivered a strike notice to management. Nurses will go on an unfair labor practice strike on March 17 unless hospital administrators agree to a fair union contract that keeps enough experienced nurses at the bedside to provide safe patient care to Long Island patients. Instead of prioritizing negotiating a fair contract, the Northwell/South Shore administration has interfered with the federal labor law rights of its employees by, including but not limited to engaging in retaliation, interrogation, and surveillance. NYSNA filed unfair labor practice charges against the hospital on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
The nurses’ union contract expired on Friday, Feb 28. More than 900 NYSNA nurses work at Northwell/South Shore.
The strike notice gives Northwell/ South Shore administrators time to plan care for patients while nurses are on strike. But the best way for management to protect patients is to listen to nurses and settle a fair contract that protects quality patient care before March 17.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “NYSNA's 42,000 members are in solidarity with our nurses at Northwell Health/South Shore University Hospital. Northwell cannot continue to invest in new buildings and expanding their corporate empire at the expense of investing in safe patient care and the nurses who make this hospital run. They must come to the table and bargain a fair contract.”
Northwell South Shore nurse and NYSNA’s local bargaining unit president Joanne DeAntonio, RN BSN CEN, said: “Nurses do not want to strike, but we’re ready to do whatever it takes for our patients and our community. As a Level 1 trauma center, we are being held to a higher standard, yet we’re refused higher wages. Nurses aren’t looking to become millionaires, like the Northwell CEO, we’re simply trying to afford the cost of living while providing quality care for our patients.”
Northwell South Shore nurse Jenna Kuhn-Plaza, RN BSN, said: “We decided to submit a strike notice because we take patient care seriously, because we know this community deserves better. Instead of hearing our demands, Northwell has been busy surveilling and intimidating nurses. Enough is enough, Northwell must stop the intimidation and come to the table to bargain a fair contract.”
Nurses argue that Northwell can afford to invest in a contract that helps recruit and retain enough nurses for quality patient care. Northwell Health is one of the largest employers on Long Island and has some of the highest executive compensation packages. In 2023, Northwell’s President and CEO Michael Dowling raked in over $9 million in salary, benefits, and perks. The hospital system has spent lavishly in recent years to expand the South Shore campus, increase its endowment and purchase Connecticut-based Nuvance Health. Regulators are concerned about Northwell’s track record of hiking prices after mergers and acquisitions. The health system also announced in July 2024 it was launching its own film studio, raising questions about its commitment to patient privacy and care.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 26, nurses held a speak-out at the hospital and announced that they voted in favor of authorizing an unfair labor practice strike by over 99 percent. Nurses have been urging Northwell to prioritize negotiating a fair and on-time contract, respect their nurses and settle a fair contract with safe staffing, improved wages, and benefits that will help recruit and retain nurses.
Nurses have been pushing to improve staffing in areas such as the emergency department and labor and delivery unit and asking Northwell to hire more nurses to cover sick calls to maintain safe staffing at all times. Understaffing is especially bad when nurses go on break and managers do not assign break relief nurses to ensure safe staffing standards are maintained for patients. In a poll conducted in July/August 2024, nurses reported that they did not have break coverage on over 61% of shifts.
Northwell/South Shore was designated a Level 1 trauma center in August of last year. It receives patients with high acuity from all over the region—from Mather Hospital to Peconic Bay Medical Center.
NYSNA nurses at Northwell Huntington Hospital and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital are also in active bargaining on Long Island. Over 2,500 NYSNA nurses at the three Long Island hospitals are united for quality care for all Long Island patients.
###
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.