Nurses strike to continue at NewYork-Presbyterian after union fails to ratify tentative agreement
The largest and longest nurses strike in New York City history is going to continue for at least a 32nd day at NewYork-Presbyterian after union members failed to ratify a tentative agreement on Wednesday, officials said.
About 10,500 nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West and Montefiore Einstein hospitals voted overwhelmingly to ratify their tentative three-year contracts, which were reached earlier in the week.
It is expected that nurses with new deals will return to work by Saturday.
NewYork-Presbyterian "disappointed" by failed ratification
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) said NewYork-Presbyterian nurses reached an agreement with the hospital Tuesday night. Union officials said nurses voted to ratify the proposal, which delivered the same contract priorities to all the striking nurses at different hospitals.
Nurses ultimately voted to reject the tentative agreement and mediator's proposal, meaning over 4,200 nurses remain on strike.
Highlights of the deal include maintaining enforceable safe-staffing standards, increasing the number of nurses to improve patient care, and raising salaries by 12% over the next three years.
"Beginning late yesterday (2/10), NYSNA brought the mediators' comprehensive proposal to a vote with the NewYork-Presbyterian nurses represented by NYSNA. The voting has concluded, and we are disappointed that our nurses did not ratify the mediators' proposal, which we had accepted on 2/8, and NYSNA leadership endorsed," NewYork-Presbyterian said in a statement, in part, adding, "We believe the proposal, which includes compromises, is fair and reasonable and reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role that they play. As stated, this proposal was presented by the mediators, who are some of the most respected and experienced neutral negotiators, after months of bargaining.
"For now, we remain willing to honor this current proposal for reconsideration. It's critical to remember that the economic terms we agree to will directly affect New York City's safety net hospitals.
"Next steps are still being determined. In parallel, we are inviting our nurses to return to work if they choose."
"Now it's time for NewYork-Presbyterian to do the right thing, agree to a fair contract and bring all our nurses back to work," NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said in a statement, in part.
Jennifer Lynch, a nurse practitioner at NewYork-Presbyterian, told CBS News New York earlier Wednesday that she is on the executive committee, which initially rejected the deal. She said she voted "no" again, arguing it didn't address their main issues.
"I'm feeling a little bit shocked because yesterday we were a little bit blindsided by NYSNA going ahead and bypassing the typical procedure with the executive committee's decision," Lynch said at the time.
Mount Sinai, Montefiore nurses vote overwhelmingly to ratify
According to the NYSNA, 87% of nurses at Mount Sinai ratified their new contract, while 96% did so at Mount Sinai Morningside and 86% followed suit at Montefiore.
"Nurses set out to improve patient care because NYSNA nurses believe that every patient is a VIP. Our contracts ensure that our hospitals are safer places -- through increased staffing, workplace violence protections, and more. This hard-earned victory shows hospitals that they can't cut corners on patient care," Hagans said in a statement.
"This fight was for our patients, and our patients understood that. That's why they supported us while we were on the picket line. We achieved improvements that will hire and retain more nurses, protect immigrant and trans patients and nurses, and create safeguards against artificial intelligence for the first time. We're so glad to be going back in the hospital, though the fight for quality care and healthcare for all continues," Mount Sinai local nurse leader Denash Forbes said.
Added Montefiore nurse Shaiju Kalathil: "Montefiore nurses put our Bronx communities first in these negotiations. There is, of course, more to be done, but the wins in safe staffing standards will ensure that patients receive better care, which was our priority from the beginning. We're tired but stronger than ever, and most importantly, excited to get back to our patients."
Wednesday was the 31st day of the strike
Nearly 15,000 nurses walked off the job Jan. 12, citing issues with staffing levels and a lack of workplace protections.
The union has been going back and forth with three major New York City hospital systems, fighting for pay raises, health care coverage and other benefits.
Travel nurses were flown in from across the country to continue patient care.
All affected hospitals have insisted their operations have run smoothly during the strike, but many medical centers canceled scheduled surgeries, transferred some patients, and discharged others.
"Though it has been challenging with the weather and everything, we are very united and we're a very resilient group of people and we are not going to stop fighting for our patients and for what's right," Lynch said.
