'Patients Deserve Better:' NYSNA Northwell Nurses Vote To Authorize Strike

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The New York State Nurses Association announced on Tuesday that nurses from Northwell Hospitals have voted to authorize a strike if an agreement regarding their contract is not met by Dec. 31.

The voting process took place last week, and it has been announced that they voted with an 'overwhelming majority' for their bargaining committees to call a strike if a contract that protects safe patient care is not settled by their deadline.

More than 1,000 NYSNA nurses at Northwell hospitals in Huntington, Plainview, and Syosset are ready to strike, NYSNA said.

NYSNA said they are fighting for safe staffing, to protect their healthcare benefits, and for a real plan to recruit and retain enough nurses at the bedside.

If an agreement is not met by Dec. 31, NYSNA would have the authority to call a strike, but they would still have to give a 10-day notice before initiating it.

When asked for a comment on the strike authorization, Northwell Health responded to Patch with a statement:

"Northwell Health values and invests deeply in our nurses and the essential role they play in caring for our communities. Our hospitals are engaged in ongoing, constructive negotiations with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and have consistently bargained in good faith. Our focus remains on reaching a fair and responsible agreement that supports our nurses and ensures the continuity of high-quality, compassionate care our patients rely on."

These nurses have been bargaining for a new union contract for months, but Northwell management has responded with delay tactics and denied nurses' demands, NYSNA said.

Northwell Health has also responded with proposals to make staffing levels less safe for LI patients, including "making nurses in the emergency room responsible for up to 12 patients at a time," according to NYSNA.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, CCRN, spoke up on the strike authorization.

“Going on strike is always a last resort, and NYSNA nurses will continue to do everything within their power to settle fair contracts," Hagans said. "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."

Last week, nurses sent a letter to the new President and CEO of Northwell Health demanding a fair contract. The letter, signed by more than 150 nurses from Plainview and Syosset hospitals, was delivered on Dec. 17 to John D'Angelo.

Nurses have also held speak-outs demanding action, but NYSNA said they "have still seen little progress at the bargaining table."

NYSNA said they believe Northwell Health has the funds to provide fair contracts.

"In 2023, the 20 top executives at Northwell made over $36.7 million in salaries, bonuses, and perks," NYSNA said.

Chris Coburn, RN, at Northwell/Plainview Hospital, added that working long hours without proper staffing can take a toll on nurses and patients.

"We are working most shifts in the emergency room with too many patients and not enough nurses," he said. "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."

Meloi Policastro, RN, at Northwell/Syosset, said that Northwell Health's givebacks and staffing ratios would make LI 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," Policastro said. "We’re fighting because we need Northwell to prioritize patients."

Grace Silva, RN, at Northwell/Huntington, stated that nurses across the Northwell system are united.

"Nurses are the experts in patient care, and we will continue to raise our voices until we see real change happen," she said. "Our Long Island communities deserve better.”

NYSNA Northwell nurses across NY have voted to strike and won strong contracts, including at Northwell/South Shore University Hospital earlier this year.

NYSNA represents more than 5,225 members at seven facilities throughout LI and Staten Island.

Approximately 20,000 NYSNA nurses in 12 NYC hospitals are also bargaining with the same deadline of Dec. 31. They have also voted in favor of authorizing a strike if a fair contract is not settled by the end of the year.