Nurses, Community Leaders Decry Understaffing At Montefiore Hospitals

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Nurses from three Hudson Valley hospitals were clear about what they want to see out of contract negotiations and wages, job security and work rules are not the caregivers' top priorities.

Those rallying in front of Montefiore Hospital in Mount Vernon earlier this week made it understood that patient safety is their number one isuue.

"What do we want?"

"Safe staffing levels," the healthcare workers chanted.

With contracts due to expire on Dec. 31, the state's largest nurses' union in sounding the alarm about a staffing crisis facing all three hospitals that they claim threatens to impact patient care.

Nurses from three Montefiore facilities, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Nyack, gathered with community leaders and elected officials this week to make their vocies heard.

The New York State Nurses Association-represented workers joined forces to raise awareness of what the union terms a "crisis of understaffing." The represented healthcare workers are demanding Montefiore settle a fair contract — before all three contracts expire at the end of the year.

The union said this is the first time that all three hospitals will be bargaining on a common contract expiration and a common platform. Nurses are demanding Montefiore settle fair contracts that prioritize enforceable safe staffing ratios, competitive wages, and improvements to health and educational benefits that honor nurses’ service and quality care, according to their negotiators.

"This morning I joined the New York State Nurses Association in front of Montefiore hospital in Mount Vernon at a press conference and rally calling for a contract to provide safe nurse/patient staffing ratios (important for nurses and patients alike!) and for fair compensation and benefits," NYS Assembymember Chris Burdick posted on social media Tuesday evening. "Safe staffing levels are the law, which I joined my colleagues in the Legislature in passing. Montefiore must now follow the law and do the right thing by the nurses. It is a matter of safety, equity, and racial and social justice."

"The national staffing crisis for nurses is well documented and Montefiore is certainly not alone in seeking to address these challenges," Montefiore said in a statement to Patch on Friday. "Our commitment to the safety and health of our patients and to our nursing staff remains absolute and we will continue, as we have always done, to negotiate in good faith to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution."

This story was updated with a statement from Montefiore.