NYSNA to Hold Press Briefing on Negotiations and Jan. 12 Strike Deadline
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR SUNDAY, JAN. 11 AT 11 AM**
Contact: Andrea Penman-Lomeli | press@nysna.org | 347-559-3169
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
NYSNA to Hold Press Briefing on Negotiations and Jan. 12 Strike Deadline
Nurses at 4 NYC hospitals set to strike tomorrow, on Monday, Jan. 12, in what would be largest nurse strike in NYC history if contract agreements to protect patient and nurse safety are not reached
New York, NY— NYSNA will hold a virtual press briefing on Sunday, Jan. 11 from 11:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. with NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, to provide an update on New York City contract negotiations, including at the 4 hospitals that could strike beginning Jan. 12 unless tentative agreements are reached.
WHAT: NYSNA virtual press briefing
WHERE: Zoom. All participants must register at https://nysna.zoom.us/meeting/register/lFoXijLfQYCnWO-i4aTTFA#/registration
WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 11 from 11-11:30 a.m.
Media will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the briefing. The briefing will be recorded and distributed to members of the press who register at the link below.
With little movement at remaining bargaining tables, nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian are urging the management at the wealthiest hospitals to follow the lead of safety-net hospitals and negotiate fair contracts that improve safe staffing, fully fund health benefits for nurses, and protect nurses from workplace violence.
If management refuses to negotiate a fair deal, NYSNA nurses will go on the largest unfair labor practice nurse strike in New York City history, tomorrow on Jan. 12. Negotiations continue today, but if tentative agreements are not reached, nurses will begin the strike at 6 a.m. at Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Morningside and West, and at 7 a.m. at Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian.
Key sticking points in negotiations include management’s threats to cut healthcare benefits for the frontline nurses who care for New York City, management’s attempt to roll back safe staffing standards that nurses won when they went on strike at two major hospitals three years ago, and management’s refusal to agree to protections from workplace violence, despite a recent active shooter incident at Mount Sinai Hospital and the recent horrific violent incident at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
Northwell/ Plainview Hospital, Syosset and Huntington nurses signed tentative agreements on new contracts on Friday, Jan. 9, that protect safe patient care, averting a nurse strike on Long Island. Highlights of the new three-year tentative contract agreements include:
- Improved staffing safe staffing standards at all three hospitals, and safe staffing standards for the first time at Northwell/Huntington.
- Approximately 5% annual wage increases each year of the contract at all three hospitals.
- Maintained good health benefits for nurses, and improved pension and retiree health at Plainview Hospital.
More details will be shared after ratification votes take place.
NYSNA launched a new advertising campaign and website this fall that calls out hospital greed. Visit nychospitalgreed.com to learn more. Previously, nurses launched a website for New Yorkers to learn more about how to support NYSNA members: https://www.nursescareforny.org/
Striking is always a last resort, but nurses say they are prepared to strike if hospital administration gives them no other option.
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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.