Nurses March At Northwell Headquarters: 'Not Treating Us Like Heroes'

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — Nurses from three Northwell Health hospitals gathered at the company's New Hyde Park headquarters Thursday to call for a contract.

A staffing shortage is making working conditions unsafe, members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) said. NYSNA represents 1,200 nurses at Plainview, Syosset and South Shore hospitals, where they have worked without a renewed contract since October 2021.

Chrysse Blau, a registered nurse at South Shore University Hospital, along with other protesters, carried oversize petition boards to the Northwell offices.

"We felt very disrespected that they refused to meet with us or even accept the petitions," she said.

"Northwell executives still have a giant healthcare hero sign on their building, but they are not treating us, the frontline nurses, like heroes."

The nurses asked that Northwell "negotiate in good faith and bargain a fair contract that delivers safe staffing, fair wages and benefits, and strong health and safety protections," the nurses association aid in a news release.

Marie Boyle, a director at the nurses group, said that the continued lack of a contract means more nurses are leaving, making staffing shortages worse.

A spokesperson for Northwell Health shared a statement with Patch:

"For more than a year, Syosset Hospital has been negotiating in good faith for a new contract for our nursing colleagues. We currently have what we believe to be a fair and equitable contract offer on the table and are awaiting a response from NYSNA. As always, the hospital is appreciative of our nursing colleagues’ immeasurable contributions to the community we serve, and we remain hopeful that we will reach an agreement soon."