JUNE 2019
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/MAYORALS
Bargaining Starts Strong If NYSNA nurses’ first bargaining session with the City on June 17 was largely procedural, the second session on June 19th was anything but. For the first time in our bargaining with the City, dozens of nurses attended the open session, held at the NYSNA headquarters. Twenty-four NYC H+H/Mayorals nurses gave compelling testimony about their working conditions. Sonia Lawrence, RN, an ICU nurse at Lincoln Hospital, explained, “How do I provide quality care with dignity and compassion when I have no PCT or PCA to offset my workload? I have to be a unit clerk, phlebotomist, EKG technician, messenger transport, pharmacy delivery person, running to the lab or the blood bank, because the patient’s life depends on it. Even when leaving the patient’s bedside may be the difference between life and death.” Alizia McMyers, RN, an Accountable Care Manager and Membership Chair at Harlem Hospital, described the conversations she often has with nurses in her facility: “The veteran nurses tell me they have never seen staffing this bad. When newer nurses are distraught, I try to reassure them it will get better, but I
wonder if the City and H+H will put in the resources to actually make it better?” NYSNA nurses and negotiators spoke about the financial benefits of safe staffing, as well as nurse retention, workplace violence, and issues of equity. We emphasized the predatory relationship between the private sector and public sector hospitals, and how inequalities and healthcare disparities are growing. We pointed to the need for Mayor de Blasio to pay attention to what’s happening in the public sector, particularly as he runs for President on a platform of quality universal healthcare. “Public sector nurses believe strongly in expanding access to healthcare,” said Judith Cutchin, RN and President, NYSNA NYC H+H/Mayorals Executive Council. “Safe staffing is the key to creating access.” At the end of the meeting, we scheduled the next ten bargaining sessions. Talk to your Rep or RSVP to henry.rose@nysna.org to attend, and be part of making history.
SAVE THE DATES! Next Bargaining Sessions: Thursday, July 11 Friday, July 12
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
Nurses and Supporters Speak Out at City Hall On June 12, dozens of NYC H+H/Mayorals nurses packed the steps of City Hall, flanked by the NYSNA Board of Directors, and over a dozen elected officials and community leaders. In one voice, we demanded the resources and nurses to deliver quality care for all in the public system. Nurses spoke out about feeling overwhelmed and underpaid. Towana Peynado, RN, described conditions in the Harlem Hospital ED where managers don’t staff for breaks, so a nurse can be left caring for 24 patients at a time. Woodhull ICU nurse Roxanna Garcia, RN, talked about how H+H nurses are struggling to provide every patient with the care they deserve, and called for money to be spent where it will do the most good—in hiring more nurses. Patricia Tyrell, RN, from the Mayorals described the importance of keeping first responders healthy, and how the city cannot function without the Police, Firefighters, Corrections, ACS and HRA.
Elected officials and labor and community leaders spoke passionately about the important role of nurses in keeping NYC healthy, and they demanded more resources for NYC H+H so we can live up to the promise of delivering quality healthcare to all New Yorkers. Standing in solidarity with H+H nurses were: NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer; NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.; Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Manhattan Deputy Borough President Adrin Bonilla; Councilmember Mark Levine, Chair of the Health Committee; Councilmember Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Hospitals Committee; Councilmember Daneek Miller, Chair of the Labor Committee and CoChair of the Black, Latino, Asian Caucus; Vinny Alvarez, President of the NYC Central Labor Council; Barbara Edmonds, DC 37 AFSCME; Kevin Collins, Doctors Council SEIU; Afua Atta-Mensah, Community Voices Heard; Anthony Feliciano, CPHS; Michael Feinberg, Greater NY Labor Religion Coalition; and Max Hadler, NY Immigration Coalition. It was an incredible show of support that could not have come at a better time. The Mayor and the New York City Council are finalizing the annual budget, and NYSNA nurses start bargaining a new contract with the City on June 17. We are ready to turn the solidarity and people power on the steps of City Hall into a great new contract for nurses and our patients.
Judith Cutchin, RN and NYSNA NYC H+H/Mayorals Executive Council President, MC’ed the event and explained that because H+H hospitals serve the unprofitable patients that private hospitals avoid, “We are afraid that inequality and healthcare disparities are growing under this two-tier system of healthcare.” Woodhull nurse Roxanna Garcia, RN, speaks out at City Hall for more nurses
JUNE 2019
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at NYC Health + Hospitals
Building an Unstoppable Force Speaking Truth to Power at the H+H Annual Meeting NYSNA nurses were a powerful force at the H+H Annual meeting in Brooklyn on June 18. Eight nurses from throughout Brooklyn facilities, including Woodhull, Kings County, Coney Island, and East New York D+T made their voices heard. We even had solidarity from Harlem and Bronx nurses, who attended the meeting and presented testimony. Safe staffing and nurse retention were consistent themes in nurses’ speeches.
May and June have been incredibly busy for NYC H+H/ Mayorals nurses. We have been building our bargaining power by rallying outside of our hospitals, and speaking out at City Hall and at the final H+H Annual Meeting in Brooklyn.
“How can H+H keep using slogans like “patients come first” or “I care” unless they mean it and make some positive changes?” asked Deborah Gatson, MSN RN, of East New York D+T.
Going on the Record at City Hall On May 23, nurses attended the City Council Executive Budget Hearing and went on the record in their demands for more resources for our public hospital system. “Right now, NYSNA estimates that the system needs $120 million just to hire an acceptable and safe number of nurses and ancillary staff to care for the patients we already have,” explained Roxanna Garcia, RN, of Woodhull, to the City Council Members. Coney Island Hospital’s Ray Briggs, RN, highlighted the problem with hospitals’ increasing reliance on HCAP scores. “How can we earn a high HCAP score when we don’t have the adequate resources?” asked Briggs. “The answer is we can’t.”
Rallying for Respect On June 11, nurses at Harlem Hospital and NCB rallied outside of their facilities, demanding respect for their patients and profession. On June 18, nurses at Lincoln and Woodhull rallied despite the rain, demanding safe staffing and a fair contract.
Wendy Doctor, RN, of Woodhull Hospital asked, “Will H+H Board Members stand in solidarity with the nurses and advocate for hiring more nurses and other direct caregivers?” She then thanked the NYC H+H Board members who signed onto our Contract Campaign Pledge, and urged other Board Members in attendance to sign on, as well. At the beginning of the meeting, the NYC H+H Board of Directors acknowledged how last year’s powerful testimony from nurses led to them to hire 340 new nurses in the course of last year, despite hiring freezes in other areas.
What’s Next We must continue building momentum and pressure throughout the summer as bargaining continues. To organize actions and communicate what’s happening with the contract to your colleagues, get involved in a Contract Action Team (CAT) in your facility. Talk to your Rep for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
(For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep or visit www.nysna.org/events)
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OPERATING ROOM CERT. REVIEW
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CHARTING WITH A JURY IN MIND PT. I
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WOUND CARE CERT. REVIEW
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MEDICAL MISSION & DISASTER RELIEF
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June 27, NYSNA NYC Office July 11, Correctional Health Services July 11 & 12, NYSNA NYC Office July 15-20, Cuba ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING CERT. REVIEW
July 16 & 17, NYSNA NYC Office
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HEALTH AND SAFETY LEADER TRAINING
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ONCOLOGY NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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INPATIENT OB NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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HEART FAILURE NURSING CERT. REVIEW
July 18, NYSNA NYC Office July 22 & 23, NYSNA NYC Office July 29, NYSNA NYC Office August 5 & 6, NYSNA NYC Office
JOIN US! CAT ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Meetings Every Monday & Thursday 9:00AM-10:30AM 4:30PM-6:00PM 8:30PM-10:30PM NYSNA Office, 131 W. 33rd ST, 4th Floor
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 NYSNA Board of Directors: www.nysna.org/board-directors
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