(Washington Insider Magazine) – Big Apple Mayor Eric Adams said: “It’s crucial that we give them a fair contract. I encourage everyone to stay at the table to reach an agreement.”
Given that they did not reach a new labor agreement until the weekend, the nursing union of two private hospitals in New York fulfilled its threat on Monday to go on strike.
From 7 in the morning to 7 at night, professionals from this health sector who work at Mount Sinai and Montefiore hospitals organized pickets to make their demands heard. Several elected officials such as the prosecutor Letitia James, the ombudsman Jumaane Williams, were present outside the care homes to express their support for these essential workers.
It is estimated that more than 7,000 nurses are currently without a contract because the previous one expired on December 31. The industry is pushing for hospitals to raise wages in line with inflation, maintain health insurance coverage and increase the hiring of more health care professionals.
It is estimated that 3,500 professionals in this area who work at Montefiore and another 3,600 at Mount Sinai are participating in the strike.
Even the state governor herself, Kathy Hochul, on Sunday spoke by phone with representatives of the union, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), and hospital centers.
In a statement, Hochul said, “No one takes more risks to care for New Yorkers than our nurses, which is why my team has been pushing for a fair labor agreement for these dedicated professionals and to ensure they have safe working conditions.”
She added that for weeks now, “we have been working tirelessly with our partners in New York City to agree negotiations between the affected nurses and hospitals, and our efforts have made significant progress. Strikes have been averted at New York Presbyterian, Richmond University Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center.”
“However, there are unfinished business in Montefiore and Mount Sinai and I now request binding arbitration so that all parties can quickly reach a resolution. The New York State Department of Health will continue to enforce statutory staffing requirements at these hospitals to maintain the delivery of essential health care services to the community and protect the health and safety of patients. Likewise, the Department of Health will continue to ensure that all providers comply with the requirements of the law, ”she insisted.
Because these are private hospitals, New York State cannot play a decisive role in these negotiations, but it does have the authority to penalize hospitals that do not meet New York-regulated staffing requirements.
During The Peak of The COVID-19
In the same vein, Mayor Eric Adams spoke: “Nurses are on the front lines of our health care system, and we all witnessed their heroic actions during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Regarding the implications the strike could have on patient care, Adams said city teams are in regular communication with the New York Hospital Association, the five borough hospital systems and other partners in the state to ensure New Yorkers continue to receive care.
However, Adams encouraged all New Yorkers to call 911 for emergencies only and be prepared to find an alternate facility in case their hospital is affected by the strike.
Speaking to local radio, the mayor insisted: “It is crucial that we give them a fair contract. I encourage everyone to stay at the table to reach an agreement.”
The presidents of the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx also unanimously expressed their support for the nurses.
“These (healthcare) heroes deserve a contract that fairly compensates them for their commitment and expertise and ensures safe working conditions. Our commitment is to the community and the safety of patients receiving care at these hospitals. Improving the nurse to patient ratio provides better outcomes for patients. When both parties are in sync on this top priority, the negotiated contract will be beneficial to all stakeholders, as it will ensure the best quality metrics for hospitals and the well-being of patients and essential nursing staff,” said Mark Levine and Vanessa Gibson.
In a press release, early today, the Montefiore hospital stated: “Despite the offer of a compound salary increase of 19.1%, the same offer agreed in the richest peer institutions, and the commitment to create more than 170 new nursing positions, and despite a call for arbitration from Governor Hochul, NYSNA leadership has decided to move away from their patients’ bedside. We remain committed to uninterrupted, compassionate care. This is a sad day for New York City.”
In previous statements, the NYSNA has pointed out that even though costs for procedures and care have risen steadily over the past two years at all hospitals, on balance, the care workforce is much smaller, compared to even before the pandemic.
Until tonight no agreement had been reached, so another day of sit-downs was expected.
This article is authored by EI Diario.
