Plainview Northwell Hospital NYSNA Nurses Reach Tentative Agreement, Other LI Nurses Still Set To Strike

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Northwell/Plainview Hospital NYSNA nurses and Northwell Health have come to a tentative agreement late Thursday night– signing the new contract on Friday– ultimately averting a strike, according to NYSNA.

Syosset and Huntington Northwell NYSNA and Northwell Health are still in negotiations with a strike deadline on Monday. Northwell Health was given the 10-day strike notice last week on Friday, Jan. 2.

On Wednesday, more than 200 nurses from the three Long Island Northwell hospitals packed the room during a late-night bargaining session. NYSNA said it was to show management their strength and how serious NYSNA nurses are about settling a fair contract.

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

"Northwell Plainview Hospital is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with NYSNA (New York State Nurses Association). From the start of negotiations, our goal has been to reach a fair contract that supports our valued nurses and upholds the high standard of care our patients and community trust.

This agreement reaffirms our commitment of enabling a supportive work environment and provides our nurses with competitive compensation and benefits. We continue to negotiate with NYSNA at Huntington and Syosset Hospitals and remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached, and we will continue to work diligently toward that goal."

Nearly 1,000 Long Island nurses at Northwell/Syosset and Northwell/Huntington are set to strike on Monday unless a fair contract is met, NYSNA said. They are ready to strike on Jan. 12 if management does not agree to a fair contract that protects safe patient care, healthcare, and safe staffing, NYSNA said.

"Striking is always a last resort, but nurses say they are prepared to strike if hospital administration gives them no other option," NYSNA wrote.

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

On Dec. 23, NYSNA Northwell nurses voted to authorize a strike, and they had until Dec. 31 to come to an agreement on their contract with Northwell Health.

Northwell has responded with delay tactics and proposals that provide unsafe staffing levels, such as requiring emergency room nurses to care for up to 12 patients at a time, NYSNA said.

A few NY hospitals have also settled their union contracts, withdrawing their strike notice after securing healthcare protections and safe staffing. This includes Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, One Brooklyn Health Interfaith Medical Center, One Brooklyn Health Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, and Richmond University Medical Center.