Facing a ‘tridemic’ of COVID-19, flu, and RSV, workers say they are at a breaking point and patient safety is at risk.
Bronx VA Medical Center nurses hold a demonstration and join other nationwide ‘May Day’ actions demanding increased COVID-19 protections for nurses and health care workers on May 1, 2020 in New York City.
The New York State Nurses Association issued ten-day notices on Friday for strikes to begin on January 9 if contract agreements are not reached at eight hospitals, including NewYork-Presbyterian, Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Maimonides, BronxCare, Richmond University Medical Center, and Flushing Hospital Medical Center.
Nurses at each of the hospitals voted separately on whether their union members would go on strike as they called for better caregiver-to-patient ratios, increased benefits, and a sustainable and fair solution to chronic staffing shortages. In a statement, the NYSNA said the notices “give hospitals time to plan care for patients while nurses are on strike. But the best way for management to protect patients is to listen to nurses and settle fair contracts that protect patient care in the next 10 days.”
BREAKING: NYSNA nurses at eight hospitals delivered 10-day notices to strike today. NYSNA will continue to bargain non-stop between now and January 9th in the hopes of reaching agreements.