South Shore University Hospital Nurses Authorize Potential Strike

BAY SHORE, NY — Almost 800 nurses have agreed to go on strike at Northwell Health's South Shore University Hospital, should the need arise.

The New York State Nurses Association announced Friday that 99 percent of nurses employed at the hospital voted to authorize a strike following months of contract negotiations.

Voting began Sunday and concluded Friday afternoon. The strike would come about a year after the nurses' contract with the hospital expired Feb. 28, 2022.

According to the association, nurses "have become frustrated with the progress of negotiations" thus far.

The authorization does not inherently mean nurses will strike, a spokesperson told Patch. Negotiations were expected to continue next week. However, association leaders could give a 10-day warning to the hospital if they feel it's necessary.

Chrysse Blau, RN, and NYSNA president at the hospital, said in a statement that nurses do not wish to strike, but will if Northwell gives them no choice.

"We do not take striking lightly, and many of our members never thought it would come to this," said Blau. "But after months of negotiations, Northwell is still unwilling to listen to the nurses and deliver a contract that will help staff this hospital safely to deliver the care our community deserves. Next week, we head back to the bargaining table and will continue to negotiate in good faith for a fair contract that ensures safe staffing."

The hospital told Patch in a statement it was aware of the strike vote.

"We remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached and look forward to positive and productive negotiations next week," the hospital said. "We are proud of the longstanding excellent care our dedicated nursing team provides and that our patients and community have come to trust. "

The strike authorization vote comes on the heels of a January nurses strike at two New York City hospitals. The nurses won "groundbreaking agreements" on enforceable safe staffing ratios and yearly salary increases of 7,6, and 5 percent, a release said.

One nurse said in a statement that the South Shore hospital needs to enforce safer environments.

“If the hospital enforced safe staffing ratios, I would be confident that I could go to work every day and practice safely, but we’ve tried to negotiate so many times, and the hospital still won’t honor our requests,” said Jennifer Scimone, RN. “We’ve worked hard our whole career to care and advocate for our patients, so we’re not willing to lower our voices and settle for what is unacceptable and unsafe.”