Overwhelming Majority of NYSNA Northwell Nurses Vote to Authorize Strike
For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025
Contact: Andrea Penman-Lomeli | press@nysna.org | 347-559-3169
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF NYSNA NORTHWELL NURSES VOTE TO AUTHORIZE STRIKE
More Than 1,000 NYSNA Nurses at Northwell/Huntington Hospitals, Northwell/Plainview, and Northwell/Syosset Ready to Strike for a Fair Contract That Protects Safe Patient Care
New Hyde Park, N.Y. - On Tuesday, Dec. 23, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses announced the outcome of the strike authorization votes that took place at Northwell/Plainview, Northwell/Syosset, and Northwell/Huntington Hospitals. This vote authorizes their bargaining committees to call a strike if a contract that protects safe patient care is not settled by Dec. 31, 2025.
More than 1,000 nurses at the three Northwell hospitals have been bargaining for a new union contract for months, but management has responded with delay tactics and proposals to make staffing levels less safe for Long Island patients, including making nurses in the emergency room responsible for up to 12 patients at a time. NYSNA nurses are fighting for safe staffing, to protect their healthcare benefits, and for a real plan to recruit and retain enough nurses at the bedside.
Last week, nurses called out Northwell’s lack of commitment to Long Island communities in a letter to the new CEO of Northwell Health, Dr. John D’Angelo. Nurses have held speak-outs demanding real action but have still seen little progress at the bargaining table.
Chris Coburn, RN, at Northwell/Plainview Hospital, said, “The biggest issue here by far is safe staffing. We are working most shifts in the emergency room with too many patients and not enough nurses. Our patients come in sicker, and we are expected to do more with less. I became a nurse because I wanted to care for my patients. But being asked to care for up to 12 patients is physically impossible – it's not the care I want to give. Patients deserve better; they deserve enough nurses at the bedside."
Nurses know that Northwell management can afford to invest in safe patient care. Northwell is the state’s largest private employer and is investing in outrageous salaries and benefit packages for hospital executives. In 2023, the 20 top executives at Northwell made over $36.7 million in salaries, bonuses, and perks.
NYSNA launched a new website and advertising campaign called “Northwealth” calling attention to Northwell’s outrageous executive pay, investment in expanding through mergers and acquisitions, and history of hiking up patient prices after they acquire smaller community hospitals. NYSNA members at all Northwell hospitals are fighting to make sure Northwell puts patients before profits.
Meloi Policastro, RN, at Northwell/Syosset, said, “Instead of working with frontline nurses, Northwell management has demanded givebacks and staffing ratios that would make our Long Island patients less safe. There’s no reason why our care for our patients or the health and safety of nurses should be compromised while Northwell executives continue to pad their wallets. We’re fighting because we need Northwell to prioritize patients.”
Grace Silva, RN, at Northwell/Huntington, said, “Nurses across the Northwell system are united. We’ve watched the state’s largest employer make huge changes to patient care on Long Island, and it’s often not for the better. Nurses are the experts in patient care, and we will continue to raise our voices until we see real change happen. Our Long Island communities deserve better.”
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, CCRN, said, “Going on strike is always a last resort, and NYSNA nurses will continue to do everything within their power to settle fair contracts. NYSNA nurses on Long Island are united in calling on the largest employer in our state to prioritize safe patient care and treat nurses with the respect they deserve, and they aren’t scared. They are ready to do whatever it takes to protect their patients, including going on strike if management gives them no other choice.”
NYSNA Northwell nurses across New York have won strong contracts in recent years, including at Northwell/South Shore University Hospital earlier this year, and at LIJ Valley Stream, Peconic Bay Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital in 2024. NYSNA is the voice of RNs throughout the Northwell system, representing over 5,225 members at seven facilities throughout Long Island and Staten Island. Together, NYSNA nurses have secured union contracts that raise the standards for patients, nurses, and our communities.
Approximately 20,000 NYSNA nurses in 12 New York City hospitals are also bargaining with a deadline of Dec. 31, 2025, to settle fair contracts. Yesterday, they announced that they have also voted in favor of authorizing a strike. NYSNA nurses at Northwell facilities on Long Island are ready to grow the movement for quality patient care across New York state by going out on strike at the same time as their New York City union siblings.
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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.