NYSNA Nurses at WMC-HealthAlliance Hospital Ratify Strong Contract Agreement that Protects Nurse and Patient Safety
For immediate release: March 31, 2026
Contact: Andrea Penman-Lomeli | press@nysna.org | 347-559-3169
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
NYSNA NURSES AT WMC-HEALTHALLIANCE HOSPITAL RATIFY STRONG CONTRACT AGREEMENT THAT PROTECTS NURSE AND PATIENT SAFETY
After calling attention to the workplace violence issues that put nurse and patient safety at risk, nurses vote to overwhelmingly ratify a tentative agreement that ensures safe staffing, workplace safety measures, benefits to recruit and retain nurses, and strong wage increases.
Kingston, N.Y.– On Monday, March 30, nurses at Westchester Medical Center-HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract after bargaining with hospital management for months and reaching a tentative agreement on March 25. Nurses have been demanding protection from workplace violence, an issue that has only been growing over the last several years. After holding a speak-out and raising the alarm, nurses secured a contract that makes significant steps toward addressing nurse and patient safety.
Highlights of the contract include:
- Strong workplace violence protections, including improved locks, weapons detection systems at all hospital entrances, and increased security personnel to ensure nurse and patient safety.
- Maintained safe staffing standards.
- Wage increases that range from 16% to 33% over the life of the three-year agreement, putting HealthAlliance nurses on par with nearby nurses at Northwell/Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.
- Additional pay incentives to maintain safe staffing and encourage nurse retention.
- Preserved good health benefits.
- Safeguards on the use of artificial intelligence.
NYSNA nurses have been demanding safety protections as part of their call for fair contracts for months. Despite multiple recent incidents, WMC/HealthAlliance Hospital refused to take proper safety measures to protect patients, nurses, and other healthcare workers until nurses spoke out on March 11.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said, “Over the last few months, nurses have been fighting for a contract that ensures the hospital have a plan to recruit and retain nurses to ensure safe patient care. Nurses shouldn’t go to work fearing for the safety of their patients or colleagues. This contract is a win for the entire Kingston community and shows that when nurses speak out, they improve care for their communities.”
Andrea Myers, RN, said, “I’m so proud of the nurses at WMC-HealthAlliance Hospital. We were committed to achieving an agreement that addressed the issues that were seriously compromising our ability to care for patients in the way our community deserved. After months of pushing at the bargaining table and demanding better, we secured a contract agreement that will improve care for our community. We achieved protections against workplace violence, wages and benefits that help retain nurses, and protected safe staffing. This shows that when we fight, we win!”
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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.