New York City RNs authorize strike affecting 3 health systems, 10,000 nurses

Kelly Gooch -

Registered nurses voted to authorize a strike affecting about 10,000 RNs at Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian locations across New York City, according to a union news release.

The union said it expects to give hospital management an official 10-day notice of intent to strike this month.

The vote comes amid negotiations between the New York State Nurses Association and the New York City Hospital Alliance.

The union said news reports and complaints by nurses have highlighted poor working conditions and inadequate staffing, but the issues have not been addressed by hospital management.

"Instead, management has denied us the information we need to fight for the nurses and patients at the bargaining table, refused to bargain over key issues and attempted to silence nurses who are advocating for their patients," the union said.

A hospital alliance spokesperson disputed the union's claims and called the union's actions "political brinkmanship that would force nurses to abandon patients at their bedsides."

"We respect our NYSNA nurses who are essential to helping deliver high-quality healthcare. It is simply not true that staffing levels are unsafe. The fact is that our hospitals are nationally recognized for providing the best patient care and excellence in healthcare outcomes," the spokesperson said.

He added that the hospital alliance supports "a patient-first approach to staffing that is built on tailored, flexible staffing plans — designed by experienced nurses," rather than the mandated staffing ratios supported by the union.

 

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