The New York State Nurses Affiliation (NYSNA) has delivered a 10-day strike discover to a dozen non-public hospitals in NYC, warning that as much as 20,000 nurses intend to strike if they don’t comply with a brand new labor contract.
NYSNA issued the discover on Friday, stating that the strike would signify the most important nursing strike in New York Metropolis historical past.
The ten-day warning comes two days after union contracts expired on Dec. 31, with NYSNA pointing to quite a few “key sticking points” in negotiations. The union accused hospitals of failing to ensure healthcare advantages for frontline employees along with allegedly making an attempt to “roll back” secure staffing requirements that nurses gained in a 2023 strike.
NYSNA additional accused hospitals of refusing to comply with protections from office violence, referencing an incident at a Mount Sinai hospital in November when a person was fatally shot by cops after threatening to “shoot up” the hospital.
The union mentioned the 10-day warning presents hospitals a possibility to plan for affected person care whereas nurses are putting
The Larger New York Hospital Affiliation, nonetheless, which represents round 280 hospitals throughout the New York space, has described a possible strike as “irresponsible,” stating that impacted hospitals will spend thousands and thousands of {dollars} hiring exterior company nurses even when the strike doesn’t go forward.
The affiliation additional said that the strike threatens the monetary stability of a number of hospitals dealing with federal funding cuts carried out via President Donald Trump’s funds.
Which hospitals may very well be impacted by nurses’ strike?
Members of the NYSNAPhoto by NYSNA
NYSNA mentioned nurses at 12 non-public hospitals, together with BronxCare Well being System, Flushing Hospital Medical Middle, the Brooklyn Hospital Middle and Montefiore Medical Middle have voted unanimously to strike on Jan. 12.
Nurses at Maimonides Medical Middle, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia College Medical Middle, Richmond College Medical Middle, Wyckoff Heights Medical Middle and Interfaith Medical Middle in Brooklyn have additionally voted to strike. A number of impacted hospitals are “safety net” hospitals that present care to sufferers no matter their means to pay.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagan accused administration on the hospitals of “fighting against” frontline employees. She added {that a} strike is a “last resort” however mentioned nurses is not going to cease till their calls for have been met.
“Management is refusing to guarantee our healthcare benefits and trying to roll back the safe staffing standards we fought for and won,” Hagan mentioned. “Now we have been bargaining for months, however hospitals haven’t executed practically sufficient to settle truthful contracts that shield affected person care.
“The future of care in this city is far too important to compromise on our values as nurses.”
The union accused hospital executives of not doing sufficient to settle contracts at a time when New York is experiencing the worst flu surge since 2017/18.
Michelle Jones, a Registered Nurse at Flushing Hospital, mentioned union calls for will assist make sure that sufferers at security internet hospitals obtain the identical care as sufferers in “wealthy hospitals..”
“We care for a disproportionate number of uninsured and underinsured patients,” Jones mentioned. “At a moment when healthcare is under attack, we need our safety net hospitals to protect care for those who need it most. Nurses also need to have quality healthcare as we take care of sick patients.”
A spokesperson for Mount Sinai, then again, accused NYSNA of threatening to strike after simply at some point of negotiations with a third-party mediator. In addition they alleged that the union’s demand would quantity to a $100,000 enhance in common nurse pay and accused NYSNA of utilizing sufferers as “bargaining chips” at a time when hospitals are dealing with important federal funding cuts.
The Mount Sinai consultant mentioned the hospital group is ready for a possible strike if an settlement can’t be reached by Jan. 12.
“We will continue to work in good faith to reach an agreement before the strike, however after months of preparation, our system is ready for every outcome so we can maintain high quality patient care and continue to serve our patients and communities across New York,” a Mount Sinai spokesperson mentioned.
Flushing Hospital Medical Middle has not but returned a request for remark.
Hospital affiliation chief says strike menace ‘irresponsible’
Nonetheless, Larger New York Hospital Affiliation President Kenneth E. Raske slammed NYSNA as “irresponsible” for threatening a strike, stating that hospitals will probably be compelled to commit thousands and thousands of {dollars} to rent company nurses over the following 10 days. Consequently, he mentioned, hospitals would lose thousands and thousands of {dollars} even when the strike doesn’t go forward.
He mentioned some hospitals would not have the assets to rent company nurses, which he mentioned would restrict their means to operate through the strike.
“Some hospitals will immediately spend tens of millions of dollars to bring in outside agency nurses. These funds cannot be recouped if there is no strike, but not doing so is a risk that can’t be taken,” Raske mentioned.
“We have the greatest respect for our nurses, but this action by NYSNA leadership flies in the face of massive cuts in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act that will slash $8 billion from New York hospitals and trigger a loss of an estimated 34,000 hospital jobs statewide.”
NYSNA additionally referenced impending federal funding cuts however mentioned the union calls for would assist shield affected person care from any funding cuts by guaranteeing that there’s all the time sufficient nurses at bedsides to offer secure affected person care.
“While nurses have fought for patients, hospital administrators have fought against nurses, responding with avoidance, delays, takebacks, and retaliation,” NYSNA mentioned. “Management’s proposals would erode safe staffing and quality care in New York City.”
