JUNE 2018
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
Nurses from Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn call for safe staffing throughout the NYC H+H system
NYC H+H Nurses Elect Our Negotiating Committee NYC H+H nurses are already looking ahead to bargaining our next contract in summer 2019. That is when we will have another outstanding opportunity to win a good contract. During the Mayor Bloomberg years, the City refused to bargain with public sector workers. As a result, nurses worked under an old contract and without raises from 2010 to 2014. Since Mayor de Blasio was first elected, nurses have received our “Retro,” or retroactive raises, that we should have received had Bloomberg honored our contract. The current City administration has also allocated more funding towards our public hospitals and public health initiatives.
“The goal of the H+H Negotiating Committee is to negotiate collectively to obtain a fair contract that will improve wages, benefits, and safe staffing for nurses.” - Judith Cutchin, RN and President, NYSNA NYC H+H/Mayorals Executive Council
President
Now is the time to start preparing to win more gains that the nuses and patients throughout the NYC Health + Hospitals system deserve. We will be at the table with other public sector unions, and we need to come to the table prepared and unified. Be on the lookout for meeting notices and your contract bargaining survey soon!
YOUR NYC H+H/MAYORAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE RNS: • Deborah Gatson, East New York D&T Center • Suzette Williams, Kings County Hospital • Keysha Morris, Dept. of Correction • Sean Petty, Jacobi Medical Center • Valerie Bowers, Kings County Hospital • Todd Schultz, Bellevue Hospital • Ray Briggs, Coney Island Hospital • Sharon Greenway, North Central Bronx Hospital • Alizia McMyers, Harlem Hospital • Yvonne Lam, Woodhull Hospital
ALTERNATES • Jovana Woodley, Coler Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility • Mary Simon, Jacobi Medical Center • Patricia James, Kings County Hospital • Verginia Stewart, Metropolitan Hospital • Patricia Tyrell, NYC Mayoral NYPD
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
Lincoln Nurses Advocate and Win! In response, the CNO of NYC H+H came to Lincoln with a comprehensive plan to raise up staffing levels. So far, nine nurses have been hired. Additionally, there is a commitment to: nn Actively recruit and fill dozens more nurse positions nn Hire 20 new travel nurses in the ED before summer Lincoln nurses, along with Jacobi and North Central Bronx nurses, speak out at the NYC H+H Annual Meeting on May 23
In 2018, nurses at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln have presented two petitions to management demanding safe staffing. We also presented a petition about the disrespect of some managers, as well as discrimination in Lincoln’s hiring of managers.
All the nurses are concerned with patient safety, but we cannot forget about nurses’ safety, too.” -Marsha Wilson, RN, Lincoln LBU President
On May 23, Lincoln nurses took our message to the highest levels of NYC Health + Hospitals at the NYC H+H Annual Meeting, along with nurses from Jacobi and North Central Bronx. More than 50 nurses turned out to support our colleagues, who bravely testified about the issues affecting nurses and our patients.
nn Hire safe and adequate staff throughout the hospital by winter
Lincoln nurses fought hard for these gains. Our persistence and unity delivered results. As we begin turning our attention to bargaining, let’s remember that when we fight, we win!
I’ve been at Lincoln for twelve years. I started as an LPN. When I trained as a nurse in 2011, I came in with a big group of hires—maybe 75 of us—15 on the same day as me. I am the only one left. On the night shift, we need 5-6 nurses, but we are only staffed with 2. This is a big reason we cannot retain nurses. The revolving door of nurses seriously affects patient care. -Jamont Harshaw, RN, Lincoln
JUNE 2018
Community Boards Say Yes to Safe Staffing!
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at NYC Health + Hospitals
these Community Boards and answering questions from board members, as well as community members, all three Community Boards voted unanimously to adopt our Resolution in support of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act! Nurses also met with local City Council Members Keith Powers, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., and Bill Perkins, all of whom voiced their support for our efforts. NYSNA nurses are so appreciative of this grassroots political support, and we plan to continue building support!
Bronx CB1 Health Committee Chair and Lincoln Auxilliary Board Member, Brenda Goodwin, and Lincoln RN, Lorraine Pierre after the CB voted for our safe staffing resolution
Our strategy of educating and engaging Community Boards throughout New York City is working. In the past few weeks, nurses met with the Health and Social Services Committees of Brooklyn Community Board (CB) 9, Bronx CB 1, and Bronx CB 11, raising the alarm about safe staffing in NYC’s hospitals. After presenting our case at the general meetings of
Rosemarie Mason, RN & Jacobi LBU Vice President/AED, Michelle Webb, RN & NYSNA Release Time Rep, and Carole Bailey, RN, Montefiore make the case for safe staffing at the Bronx CB 11 general board meeting
Nurses Rally for Safe Staffing With the state legislative session ending in June, nurses need to urge the State Assembly and Senate to pass safe staffing now! That’s why nurses in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island held rallies along with elected officials to send the message that safe staffing saves lives! Check out our latest ad: http://bit.ly/2syqduN.
Public sector nurses Sean Petty, RN, Jacobi, Lorraine Pierre, RN and Barbara Duke, RN, Lincoln, joined fellow nurses and Assembly Members Carmen Arroyo (Bronx AD 84), Jose Rivera (Bronx AD 78) on the steps of Bronx Borough Hall to speak out for patient safety.
Make Your Voice Heard! Call (844) 534-SAFE Nurses extend our gratitude to Assembly Members Robert Carroll (Brooklyn AD 44) and Jo Anne Simon (Brooklyn AD 52), who spoke out along with public sector nurses Judith Cutchin, RN, Woodhull Hospital, and Marjorie Ames, RN, Kings County Hospital, for safe staffing
Leave a message that we will deliver to your State Senator and to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. • • • •
Say your NAME Where you LIVE Why safe STAFFING MATTERS PASS the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act now!
UPCOMING EVENTS
(For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep)
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PSYCH NURSE CERTIFICATION REVIEW
June 21 & 22, NYC NYSNA Office
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ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING CERT. REVIEW
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INPATIENT OBSTETRIC NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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VIOLENCE IN HEALTHCARE, CONFLICT & UNDERSTAFFING
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July 9-10, NYC NYSNA Office July 12 & 13, NYC NYSNA Office July 18, NYC NYSNA Office WOUND CARE CERT. REVIEW
July 19 & 20, NYC NYSNA Office
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ONCOLOGY NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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CRITICAL CARE NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW
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NEUROSCIENCE CERTIFICATION REVIEW
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MED-SURG CERTIFICATION REVIEW
July 23 & 24, NYC NYSNA Office August 9, NYC NYSNA Office August 14, NYC NYSNA Office August 16 & 17, NYC NYSNA Office August 20 & 21, NYC NYSNA Office
NYC H+H & MAYORAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAIRS RNS: • Naomi Greene, Administration for Children’s Services • Todd Schultz, Bellevue Hospital Center • Jovana Woodley, Coler Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility • Ray Briggs, Coney Island Hospital • Audrey Morgan, Correctional Health Services • Florence Exinor, Cumberland D & T Center • Keysha Morris, Department of Correction • Theresa Minarik, Department of Sanitation • Patricia Morris, Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Nursing & Rehab Ctr • Deborah Gatson, East NY D & T Center • Pauline Williams, Elmhurst Hospital Center • James Ambery, Fire Department • Kittie McGee, Harlem Hospital Center • Grace Lee, Gouverneur Healthcare Services • Peter Pacheco, Henry J. Carter Specialty Hosp. & Nursing Facility • Rivka Elyahu, HHC Health and Home Care • Yelena Levin, Human Resources Administration • Mary Simon, Jacobi Medical Center • Curlean Duncan, Kings County Hospital Center • Marsha Wilson, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center • Charles Mighty, Metropolitan Hospital Center • Nicole Smith Ferguson, Morrisania D & T Center • Lynne Sanderson Burgess, Police Department • Sharon Greenaway, North Central Bronx Hospital • Lindella Artman, Queens Hospital Center • Stephen Nartey, Renaissance Healthcare Network • Kimberly Yeo, Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center & Home • Natalie Solomon, Segundo Ruiz Belvis D&TC • Judith Cutchin, Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center
GET ANSWERS/STAY IN TOUCH Dental benefit questions: www.Aetna.com, 877-238-6200 Prescription benefit questions: www.optumrx.com, 888-691-0130 For all other benefits: www.ASOnet.com, 888-692-7671 NYSNA NYC Office: www.nysna.org, 212 785 0157
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