President President Nancy Hagans, Bs N, r N, CCr N nancy.hagans@nysna.org
f irst Vice President
Judith Cutchin, DNP, r N judith.cutchin@nysna.org
s econd Vice President
Bill s chneider, Bs N, r N, CCr N bill.schneider@nysna.org
s ecretary
m ichelle Jones, ms N, r N, ANPC michelle.jones@nysna.org
treasurer margaret Franks, Bs N, r N, meDsurG-BC margaret.franks@nysna.org
d irectors at Large marie Boyle, Bs N, r N marie.boyle@nysna.org
marion enright, r N marion.enright@nysna.org
Denash Forbes, ms N, r N denash.forbes@nysna.org
Flandersia Jones, m PH, Bs N, r N flandersia.jones@nysna.org
s onia m . Lawrence, Bs N, r N sonia.lawrence@nysna.org
Petar Lovric, Bs N, r N, CPeN, CCr N petar.lovric@nysna.org
Ari m oma, ms A, r N ari.moma@nysna.org
Aretha m organ, ms N, r N aretha.morgan@nysna.org
Jill Toledo, r N jill.toledo@nysna.org
Pauline Wallace, Bs N, r N pauline.wallace@nysna.org
Regional d irectors
s outheastern Christopher Honor, Bs, BsN, rN, CAPA christopher.honor@nysna.org southern Alizia mcmyers, msN, mHA, BsN, rN alizia.mcmyers@nysna.org
Central Catherine Dawson, msN, rN, CNOr catherine.dawson@nysna.org
Lower Hudson/NJ mary Lynn Boyts, r N maryLynn.Boyts@nysna.org
Western John Batson, r N john.batson@nysna.org
eastern Victoria Davis Courson, msN, rN Victoria.Davis-Courson@nysna.org
editor Kristi Barnes
e xecutive editor
Pat Kane, r N, CNO r
e xecutive Director
editorial offices located at:
131 W 33rd st., New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-785-0157
email: nynurse@nysna.org
Website: www.nysna.org subscription
What’s at stake in this Year’s election
Anyone who’s turned on the news or received an email about the upcoming election has heard that there is a lot at stake in the 2024 elections. I learned that firsthand when I traveled to Chicago in August with a delegation of National Nurses United (NNU) nurses to attend the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Our delegation met with federal, state and city elected officials from all over the country who champion the fight for healthcare justice. Nurses attended powerful workshops related to labor and healthcare.
Delegates Are the Voice of the People
For the first time in my life, I was selected to serve as an official delegate to the convention, along with other New York labor leaders. Labor was in the house at this convention, and several national labor leaders were prominent speakers. It was clear how strong and growing the labor movement is in our state and country and how excited union members were to participate in this convention and nominate Kamala Harris for president and Tim Walz for vice president.
I personally felt so energized by the convention and so proud to represent New York and cast my vote for Harris/Walz. I actually called my mother from the floor of the convention while she watched on television to tell her how excited I felt to be part of a historic moment to build a better future for my daughters and other young people throughout the country. We have the opportunity in 2024 to elect not just the first woman president or woman of color president but someone with the experience, leadership and heart to lead our country in a better direction.
Delegates and attendees at the Convention heard about the stark differences between the presidential candidates. When it comes to healthcare and the economy, the visions for our future could not be more different.
unions and economic Justice
Harris is pro-union, showing up for our NNU siblings back when she was a California senator and attorney general.She is part of the first administration to walk the picket line with striking workers, and she
I attended the inspiring Democratic National Convention with other NNu co-presidents.
supports protecting the right to organize a union. When Trump was president, he rolled back the union rights of public sector workers and health and safety protections for all workers. Another Trump administration would try to eliminate even more of our union rights by enacting policies from Project 2025, a 900-page blueprint from his former administration staffers and allies. Anti-worker policies include lifting restrictions on child labor and undermining minimum wage and prevailing wage and overtime laws. They would give companies the right to break union contracts midstream, make it even harder to organize a union and eliminate public sector unions entirely.
on Healthcare
As vice president, Harris took swift action to protect healthcare workers’ health and safety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and build a robust testing, treatment and vaccine program. She has a long track record of supporting legislation to protect patients and nurses, including federal safe staffing ratios, healthcare for all, and a bill to prevent workplace violence in health care settings. When Trump was president presiding over the first deadly wave of the pandemic, he dismissed nurses’ concerns over lack of personal protective equipment.
The Biden administration worked to expand access to healthcare and lower the cost of prescription drugs Harris supports restoring full reproductive rights and saying, “every woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body — not the government.” During Trump’s administration, reproductive freedom and healthcare were severely restricted. He attempted to
roll back the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid coverage Instead of policies to increase access to care and put patients over profits, another Trump administration would restrict LGBTQ+ care and reproductive care, including criminalizing people who mail abortion pills and who provide reproductive healthcare. The administration would privatize and gut Medicare and Medicaid and roll back attempts to cap outrageous drug costs.
The Choice is Clear
When it comes to economic and healthcare policy, the choice is clear. I’m sometimes asked by members why a healthcare union would be involved in politics at all. I tell them that the policies that affect our work lives and our family lives depend on the people we elect to office. There’s no way not to be involved in politics, because you better believe that our bosses are involved in politics and heavily invested in the outcomes. As the saying goes, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”
I hope you’ll take a moment to review the 2024 Election Guide in this issue, which highlights some of the key competitive races in November’s elections and details more reasons NYSNA has endorsed Harris for president. Our endorsed candidates are carefully vetted by NYSNA’s Political Action Committee. I encourage all NYSNA members to get involved and get out the vote by reaching out to NYSNA’s Political and Community Organizing Department.
There is just too much at stake to sit on the sidelines.
sourCes
read sources in digital
Advocating for patients. Advancing the profession.SM
Boa R d of di R eC to R s
what It Means to Be a Member-Led union
since NYSNA members transformed our union in 2012 to be a fighting, member-led union of frontline nurses and healthcare professionals, we have been doing the work to make that goal a reality. We have developed trainings and structures to inform, empower, and prepare members to lead our union. We have built our nurse power from the ground up, and we have used it to take on — and win — major battles for safe staffing and respect.
Many of our recent victories — from winning new staffing laws to establishing great new contracts — would not have happened without building that worker power from the shop floor. Our member leaders are the eyes and ears of our union and our first line of defense — and offense. Our members’ ability to tell their stories, take action together and demand change is the source of our union power. The other resources and structures of our union certainly help move campaigns forward, but it’s the members who lead and make the difference.
Many Members Lead
It can be exhausting to lead. Leading requires sacrifice and determination. The struggle for respect, to enforce our contracts and to continue working toward our shared vision of healthcare justice takes a toll!
It can involve many meetings and decisions and late nights. It takes studying our contracts and the
painstaking collection of evidence and data. But we need to remember that the struggle is not one person’s alone or even that of one small group of members. We need many leaders to support one another and build our power. The more members who feel prepared to lead and take on some of the hard work, the more successful and sustainable our movement will be. That’s what solidarity — and a strong union — looks like.
e xercising Leadership
I encourage every member to attend a NYSNA member leader training. This training is how we learn to be advocates for one another through our union. NYSNA has expanded member leader trainings tremendously in the past year, but we can still deliver more training opportunities. Our goal is for every member in every facility and every unit to access this important training. Knowledge is power.
NYSNA’s leadership extends from the shop floor to our board of directors, where the experience of members from every part of the state is considered to shape our priorities and strategies. NYSNA statewide leaders look at the big picture by carefully looking at all the pieces that local and regional member leaders who have a seat at the table bring. Our Convention delegate structure gives NYSNA that ability, and our annual Convention gives us that opportunity to come together and address the most pressing issues facing our pro-
fession and our patients. Our most pressing issues are presented as resolutions that are debated. When the Convention delegates vote on resolutions, they are committing to work with NYSNA members to take action together on these issues.
The Convention is a great time for our existing member leaders to think about who else they can help build up as leaders. The “union difference” is not just about union workers having better wages, benefits, and working conditions than nonunion workers. The union difference also means that you are not
By Pat Kane, RN NYSNA Executive Director
The more members who feel prepared to lead and take on some of the hard work, the more successful and sustainable our movement will be.
alone — your union siblings are there to support you, share the load and have your back!
I’m so proud of how far our union has come, and I look forward to seeing our room full of leaders at our Convention in October. It’s truly exhilarating to see that sea of red when we’re all together and take the opportunity to think about the union as a whole.
Democracy in Action
We have engaged in a lot of democracy this year — from the NYSNA board of directors elections to National Nurses United officer and delegate elections to our NYSNA delegate elections. But Convention is where we put that democracy into action. We are not just talking about one facility, one region or one issue. When we come together, we learn from one another — sometimes realizing how similar our issues are and sometimes how different our challenges are. There is a tremendous diversity in NYSNA’s membership — and I believe that is our strength when we listen to one another and practice solidarity as a verb.
At the end of the day, we are all one NYSNA and more than the simple sum of our parts. When our members are knowledgeable, energized, ready to lead and united for our shared purpose, we are unstoppable.
Albany Med Nurses Fight to Protect Patient Care in the Capital region
For months, NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center have been sounding the alarm about unsafe staffing levels at their hospital — and pointing to understaffing as the primary cause for a concerning decline in patient care at the facility. At the same time, they’ve been at the bargaining table, fighting for a contract that prioritizes patients over profits. But as the Albany Med administration continues to stonewall the negotiating committee and drag its feet on finalizing a contract, where does that leave the patients who rely on Albany Med for healthcare services?
Albany Med Plays a Critical role in Healthcare Across New York state
Over the last 20 years, Albany Medical Health System has consolidated healthcare services across the capital region. Having acquired a significant number of nearby hospitals, the system now serves approximately one-third of all capital region patients. But the role that Albany Med plays in New York state is far greater. As the only Level 1 trauma center between Westchester and the Canadian border, AMC serves the residents of 17 counties and is the only hospital capable to providing specialized medical care to patients suffering from traumatic injuries.
But in the midst of a staffing crisis, nurses at the hospital say that they can’t provide that care. And they’re right — emergency department wait times at Albany Med are the longest in New York state, are some of the longest in the nation and have only worsened over the last decade.1 Frontline nurses say that’s largely because hospital man-
agement isn’t doing what it takes to hire and retain enough qualified nurses at the bedside.
Nurses
organize Before returning to the Bargaining Table
Since February, NYSNA nurses at Albany Med have been organizing town hall meetings, community speak-outs and forums, and press conferences to raise awareness about the severe staffing shortages at the hospital and the negative impact those shortages are having on their ability provide safe, quality patient care. Patient stories that community members shared have been in line with nurses’ concerns: that understaffing at the hospital has led to excessive wait times and a decline in patient care.
After the success of these community forums and a press event following the expiration of their contract on July 31, nurses held an informational picket and candlelight vigil in late August to show Albany Med administration the seriousness of this issue and the immense amount of support for their fight in the capital region. They were joined by hundreds of nurses, elected officials, labor leaders, and community members who all shared the same message: It’s time for Albany Med to start investing in safe, quality patient care for the community.
Pushing Ahead
In late August, nurses returned to the bargaining table, with a mediator guiding conversations between the negotiating committee and Albany Med administration. They’ve remained firm in their demands, which include safe staffing and a concrete plan to recruit
and retain experienced nurses. Despite working with NYSNA nurses to create an agreed-upon safe staffing plan earlier in the year, hospital administrators refused to include staffing enforcement mechanisms in the contract. They’ve also refused to meet the negotiating committee’s demands around nurse pay and the inclusion of union rights in the contract.
But nurses are hopeful that change will come through finalizing a fair contact and with the extra validation of a long-awaited Staffing Deficiency Report from the Department of Health. Though Albany Med administration has thus far refused to share a copy of the report with nurses, NYSNA nurses know what it will reflect: that the hospital has violated the previously agreed-upon staffing plan that it submitted to the state. Nurses’ spirits have also been bolstered as the Department of Health, in a communication separate from the report, substantiated over 50 staffing complaints that NYSNA nurses have submitted since the beginning of the year.
Despite the hospital administration’s refusal to budge on several top-line priorities, the executive and bargaining committees at Albany Med remain committed to the fight for a fair contract. Frontline nurses know that patients suffer when a hospital is not safely staffed, so they won’t stop fighting until they have the resources they need to provide capital region residents with the safe, quality patient care they deserve.
NYsNA leaders at Albany m ed and around the state joined the informational picket in solidarity.
2024 General Election Voter Guide
Our ability to strengthen our public health infrastructure — our social safety net — and support frontline workers depends on electing candidates who support nurses, healthcare professionals and our communities. As the 2024 election season heats up, this is our chance to get involved and help elect NYSNA champions who will make a difference in the lives of nurses, healthcare workers and our patients!
NYSNA is proud to announce our endorsements for the 2024 general election. These candidates share nurses’ values of community and compassion and are committed to uplifting working people everywhere. Help us build political power for our union and make sure we elect pro-worker, pro-healthcare representatives to office so we can hold employers and special interests accountable.
HoW to Vote
key Dates
l Oct. 26: last day to register to vote, in person or by mail
l Oct. 26-Nov. 3: early voting
l Nov. 4: last day to apply in person for a ballot
l Nov. 5: Election Day! Last day to postmark ballot/last day to deliver ballot in person to county board of elections or your poll site
Absentee Voting Information
You may qualify to vote absentee for the following reasons:
1. Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City, absent from the five boroughs on Election Day.
2. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
3. Unable to appear because you are the primary caregiver of one
or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
4. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
You may apply for an absentee ballot in any of the following ways:
l Apply online at https:// ballotapplication.elections. ny.gov/home/absentee.
l Go in person to your local county board of elections. (For more information, visit https:// elections.ny.gov/.)
l Designate another person to deliver your application in person to your local county board of elections and receive your ballot.
l Download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form: https:// elections.ny.gov/.
You can track your absentee ballot via the Board of Elections’ Poll Site Search, Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Tracker available at https://voterlookup.elections. ny.gov/.
You may return the ballot in any of the following ways:
1. Put it in the mail, ensuring it receives a postmark no later than Nov. 5. The County Board of Elections must receive it no later than Nov. 12.
2. Bring it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than 9 p.m. on Nov. 5.
3. Bring it to an early voting poll site in your county between Oct. 26 and Nov. 3.
4. Bring it to a poll site in your county by 9 p.m. on Nov. 5.
CONTINueD ON PAGe 6
NYsNA Treasurer margaret Franks, BsN, rN, meDsurG-BC, attended a GOTV event for Yvette Valdes smith along with labor and healthcare champion sen. m ichelle Hinchey.
Kamala Harris for President
NYSNA has joined National Nurses United (NNU) in enthusiastically endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Tim Walz for vice president.
“Vice President Harris has played a fundamental role in the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration, and she has a long history of supporting working people and backing legislation that is critical to patient health and safety,” said NYSNA and NNU President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN “Her strong track record of support for our union and for nurses’ values of caring, compassion and community stands in stark contrast to the right-wing threats and anti-worker agenda of Donald Trump. Nurses across the country are proud and excited to endorse Vice President Harris to be the next president of the United States because we know she is the right choice to protect our patients’ health and safety.”
Harris’ accomplishments include:
l Providing tie-breaking votes for critical legislation, including the American Rescue Plan, which provided stimulus checks to working people and ensured a comprehensive pandemic response program. She also provided the tie-breaking vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduced the prices of prescription drugs and included critical provisions to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
l standing up for union workers. Harris worked to save the pensions of more than 1 million union workers and retirees; has stood in solidarity with striking union workers; and chaired the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, which is aimed at helping workers join labor unions and bargain collectively. Harris has supported the NNU-backed Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a bill to protect workers’ rights to organize unions and collectively bargain without fear of retaliation, and the NNU-backed VA Employee Fairness Act, which grants full col-
lective bargaining rights to RNs and other clinicians in the Veterans Health Administration — helping to ensure our nation’s heroes receive the highest quality care.
l Advocating in key healthcare fights, including the fight to defend and restore reproductive health rights. Harris has consistently defended the Affordable Care Act and Medicare from attacks, has supported efforts to reduce medical debt, and has championed the new staffing standards for nursing homes that the Biden administration achieved. She has also supported the important health and safety regulations that the Biden administration issued, including a landmark Occupational Safety and Health Administration temporary standard mandating optimal COVID-19 protections for health care workers. Harris has toured nationwide in support of reproductive healthcare rights.
l Backing legislation to protect patients and nurses. In her time as a U.S. Senator, Harris cosponsored NNU-backed healthcare legislation, including federal safe nurse-to-patient staffing limits, Medicare for All and a bill to prevent workplace violence in healthcare settings. As attorney general of California, where NNU represents more than 100,000 RNs, Harris stood up for nurses and patients, including backing RNs in their fight to protect the state board of registered nursing from efforts to eliminate the board and holding hospital corporations accountable.
Harris and Walz have broad support among union members. Several labor leaders, including Hagans, traveled to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to address the convention and enthusiastically cast their vote to nominate Harris and Walz as president and vice president.
“As a women-dominated profession, with many nurses of color caring for patients across the country, we really couldn’t be more proud to endorse Harris for president and fight to make history in November,” said Hagans. “Nurses have her back because we know she has our back — and the backs of our patients.”
Building Union and Community Power
In an unprecedented collaboration, NYSNA is joining leading organizations, unions and movements to get out the vote and prioritize working families in this year’s election! Battleground New York — led by the Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), NYSNA, Communications Workers of America District 1, 32BJ SEIU, Indivisible and other organizations — will be the largest field and organizing campaign in modern New York history. You can find out more here: https://www.battlegroundny.com/
2024 ny nurse General Election Voter Guide Highlighted Races
Capital REGion
Gabriella romero is running for the State Assembly seat in the 109th District. Romero is in her first term as an Albany Common Council member. Romero is a public defender in Albany County and continues to fight for working families. She supports universal healthcare and sponsors the city council resolution in support of Albany Medical Center nurses in their fight for a fair and just contract and has been on the picket lines as well.
Phil steck is running for State Assembly seat in the 110th District. Steck is a strong supporter of the Nurses in the Capital District and the issues our members really care about, like safe staffing ratios and the single-payer healthcare system. Steck stood with our nurses from Ellis and Bellevue during their yearlong contract campaign and is cur-
rently standing with Albany Medical Center nurses during their contract campaign and their fight to enforce the staffing law at Albany Med.
Hudson VallEy
senator Michelle Hinchey is running for reelection to the New York State Senate in the Hudson Valley’s 41st District. She was first elected in 2020, making history as the youngest woman to represent an upstate district. Hinchey has focused on expanding access to rural healthcare and housing, enhancing local food access, protecting farmland, addressing the climate crisis and advancing environmental stewardship. She was there in solidarity with nurses and patients to demand a reopening of Kingston’s only inpatient mental health and chemical dependency services. Hinchey supported our staffing bill and is a co-sponsor of the New York Health Act.
Josh riley is running for Congress in New York’s 19th Congressional District. He has had a career in public service, including working as a policy analyst at the Department of Labor and as counsel in the U.S. Senate. He has championed bills that provided funding for addiction treatment and mental health programs. As an
Assemblymember steck has been in solidarity with Albany medical Center nurses throughout their contract campaign this year.
senator Hinchey at the info picket with Vassar Brothers m edical Center nurses.
2024 ny nurse General Election Voter Guide
Highlighted Races
attorney, he represented children from low-income families who could not access healthcare. Riley is committed to supporting the issues that impact nurses and our communities, including safe staffing and increased access to care.
Congressman Pat ryan is running for reelection in New York’s 18th District, representing Orange County and parts of Dutchess and Ulster Counties. He is a veteran and former Ulster County executive who has worked with organized labor to guarantee better wages and protections for working families, pass paid family leave and ensure that equal work means equal pay. Ryan has proven his commitment to tackling issues that impact nurses, healthcare professionals, patients and our communities.
Yvette Valdez-smith is running for New York State Senate’s 39th District. She is a former public-school teacher and proud union member and currently serves as minority leader of the Dutchess County Legislature. Valdez-Smith has committed to addressing the issues nurses care about, including advocating for safe staffing and co-sponsoring the New York Health Act.
long island
Laura Gillen is running for Congress in New York’s 4th
Congressional District. This district is considered one of the most competitive in the nation. Gillen was the first Democrat to be elected Town of Hempstead Supervisor in 112 years. As supervisor, she led efforts to revitalize the town’s infrastructure, sued to recover damages for contaminants in the public water supply, and passed legislation relating to sexual harassment and veterans’ benefits. Gillen has a passion for serving those in need. She was a volunteer at the former South Nassau Communities Hospital and at Gay Men’s Health Crisis during
Congressman Tom suozzi with NYsNA Director at Large michelle Jones, msN, rN, ANPC.
CONTINueD FrOm PAGe 7
Laura Gillen
Pat ryan
the height of the AIDS epidemic, and she has worked for St. Mother Teresa in her home for the dying. Gillen has pledged to support both safe staffing and increased access to healthcare.
kim keiserman is a first-time candidate running for New York State Senate in District 6. She is head of the Port Washington Democrats, a former high school teacher and a community activist who currently serves as commissioner of the North Hempstead Housing Authority Board. Her plans for the State Senate include strengthening education, standing up for reproductive rights, pushing for sensible gun laws, promoting affordable communities for working families and championing environmental policies to combat climate change. Keiserman strongly supports our issues, including staffing ratios and the New York Health Act.
Congressman Tom suozzi is running for reelection in New York Congressional District 3. He served as mayor of Glen Cove for eight years, was Nassau County Executive for another eight years and then served six years in Congress. Suozzi returned to
Congress earlier this year after winning in a special election with overwhelming support from local labor unions. As vice chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, he helped negotiate the historic Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which invested billions of dollars to improve New York’s infrastructure. Suozzi’s other accomplishments include obtaining federal funds for the Long Island Sound, securing millions for the Bethpage Water District and leading a bipartisan effort for New York State to get its fair share of federal funds during COVID-19. Suozzi also passed legislation to lower the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs.
new york City
senator Iwen Chu is running for reelection in State Senate District 17 in Brooklyn. Chu is the first Asian-American woman in the State Senate. In her first term, she secured $30 million in funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Chu stood alongside our Health+Hospitals (H+H) and Maimonides nurses during our latest round of contract negotiations. Chu is a former Community Board member and served as the board director of a
healthcare agency. She is a staunch supporter of safe nurse-to-patient ratios and increasing access to healthcare.
Andrea Morse is a first-time candidate running for Congress in District 11, which covers Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. Morse is a third-generation Staten Islander, granddaughter of a Union Machinist and the wife of a union carpenter. She believes that a pathway to the middle class is made possible through union labor. Morse is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. She has pledged to support the issues nurses care about, including sponsoring safe staffing legislation.
senator Jessica scarcellaspanton is running for reelection in New York’s 23rd District, covering the North and East Shores of Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. Some of her major accomplishments include getting vaccines for over 1,000 families across Staten Island and Brooklyn when there were no appointments available and successfully fighting to get an executive order passed
senator Pete Harkham rallies with Westchester medical Center nurses fighting for a fair contract in 2022.
CONTINueD ON PAGe 10
2024 ny nurse General Election Voter Guide
Highlighted Races
that would require hospitals to allow women in labor to have a support person when hospitals prevented this during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scarcella-Spanton has been an outspoken supporter of our nurses at Staten Island University Hospital, Richmond University Medical Center and H+H/ South Brooklyn Hospital.
Westchester and Rockland
senator Pete Harckham is running for reelection in the 40th State Senate District. He was elected to the senate in November 2018 and reelected in 2020 and 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Harckham assisted thousands of residents with unemployment claims and delivered personal protective equipment to first responders and municipalities. He has been a strong advocate for safe staffing ratios, fair contracts and worker protections. He has stood alongside nurses from NewYork PresbyterianHudson Valley Hospital and with nurses from Putnam Hospital Center during their contract negotiations and when Putnam Hospital attempted to close the only maternity ward unit in the county.
Mondaire Jones is running to return to Congress to represent residents of the Lower Hudson Valley in New York’s 17th District. In 2020, Jones was elected as the youngest member of House leadership and was named the most legislatively active freshman in Congress. Jones worked to lower prescription drug prices for thousands of seniors on Medicare; negotiated the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; and passed the American Rescue Plan Act, which kept small businesses open and brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the Lower Hudson Valley for schools, housing and healthcare. Jones is a strong supporter of nurse-to-patient ratios and Medicare for All.
elijah reichlin-Melnick
is running for New York State Senate’s 38th District in Rockland County. In 2020, Reichlin-Melnick was recognized as the most productive first-term senator of either political party, introducing and passing bills to keep kids safe from gun violence at school, protect them from lead exposure and require insurance companies to provide funding for “early intervention” services. Reichlin-Melnick was a co-sponsor of both the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act and the New York Health Act. To address the nurse staffing crisis, he introduced the RESPECT Nurses Act to prioritize nurse recruitment and retention.
Western new york
April Baskin is running in Western New York for the 63rd Senate District. April was elected to the Erie County Legislature in 2017 and has served as Legislature chair since 2020. She stood with
our members from Erie County Medical Center and Erie County Health Department during their very hard-fought contract campaign and helped members identify ways to push for a better contract. Chairwoman Baskin is a strong supporter of the healthcare issues our members deeply care about and advocate for like safe staffing and a single-payer health system.
Tim kennedy is running for reelection to Congress in Western New York’s 26th District after winning the Special Election in April. He served for six years in the Erie County Legislature and for 12 years in the New York State Senate. He stood and met several times with our nurses at Erie County Medical Center and Erie County Health Department when they were fighting to secure a contract and called on the CEO to do more for patient care. Kennedy has been a strong advocate for all labor with a strong record of support across Western New York and the state.
CONTINueD FrOm PAGe 9
Congressman Kennedy
nysna’s General Election Endorsements
u.s. CoNGress
District — Candidate
u s senate — Kirsten Gillibrand
NY 03 Tom suozzi
NY 04 Laura Gillen
NY 05 Greg meeks
NY 06 Grace meng
NY 07 Nydia Velázquez
NY 10 Dan Goldman
NY 12 Jerry Nadler
NY 14 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
NY 17 mondaire Jones
NY 18 Pat ryan
NY 19 Josh riley
NY 20 Paul Tonko
NY 22 John mannion
NY 25 Joseph morelle
NY 26 Tim Kennedy
state senate
sD 01 sarah Anker
sD 04 monica martinez
sD 06 siela Bynoe
sD 07 Kim Keiserman
sD 10 James sanders
sD 11 Toby stavisky
sD 12 mike Gianaris
sD 13 Jessica ramos
sD 17 Iwen Chu
sD 18 Julia salazar
sD 20 Zellnor myrie
sD 21 Kevin Parker
sD 23 Jessica scarcella-spanton
sD 25 Jabari Brisport
sD 26 Andrew Gounardes
sD 28 Liz Krueger
sD 29 Jose serrano
sD 31 robert Jackson
sD 32 Luis sepúlveda
sD 33 Gustavo rivera
sD 34 Nathalia Fernandez
sD 35 Andrea stewart-Cousins
sD 37 shelley mayer
sD 38 elijah reichlin-melnick
sD 39 Yvette Valdez smith
sD 40 Pete Harckham
sD 41 michelle Hinchey
sD 42 James skoufis
sD 46 Pat Fahy
sD 47 Brad Hoylman-sigal
sD 48 rachel may
sD 50 Chris ryan
sD 52 Lea Webb
sD 55 samra Brouk
sD 56 Jeremy Cooney
sD 59 Kristin Gonzalez
sD 61 sean ryan
sD 63 April Baskin
state Assembly
AD 09 michael Durso
AD 10 steve stern
AD 16 Gina silitti
AD 22 michaelle solages
AD 23 stacey Pheffer Amato
AD 25 Nily rozic
AD 28 Andrew Hevesi
AD 29 Alicia Hyndman
AD 30 steve raga
AD 31 Khaleel Anderson
AD 34 Jessica González-rojas
AD 35 Larinda Hooks
AD 36 Zohran mamdani
AD 37 Claire Valdez
AD 39 Catalina Cruz
AD 40 ron Kim
AD 43 Brian Cunningham
AD 44 robert Carroll
AD 46 Chris mcCreight
AD 47 William Colton
AD 50 emily Gallagher
AD 51 marcela mitaynes
AD 52 Jo Anne simon
AD 55 Latrice Walker
AD 56 stefani Zinerman
AD 57 Phara souffrant-Forrest
AD 58 monique Chandler Waterman
AD 65 Grace Lee
AD 66 Deborah Glick
AD 67 Linda rosenthal
AD 68 eddie Gibbs
AD 69 micah Lasher
AD 70 Jordan Wright
AD 71 Al Taylor
AD 72 manny De Los santos
AD 73 Alex Bores
AD 74 Harvey epstein
AD 75 Tony simone
AD 77 Landon Dais
AD 78 George Alvarez
AD 81 Jeff Dinowitz
AD 82 mike Bennedetto
AD 83 Carl Heastie
AD 84 Amanda septimo
AD 86 Yudelka Tapia
AD 87 Karines reyes
AD 88 Amy Paulin
AD 89 J. Gary Pretlow
AD 90 Nader sayegh
AD 91 steve Otis
AD 92 maryJane shimsky
AD 93 Chris Burdick
AD 95 Dana Levenberg
AD 96 Pat Carroll
AD 99 Chris eachus
AD 103 sarahana shrestha
AD 104 Jonathan Jacobson
AD 106 Didi Barrett
AD 108 John mcDonald
AD 109 Gabriella Alexis romero
AD 110 Phil steck
AD 111 Angelo santabarbara
AD 115 D. Billy Jones
AD 125 Anna Kelles
AD 127 Al stirpe
AD 128 Pamela Hunter
AD 135 Jennifer Lunsford
AD 137 Desmond meeks
AD 138 Harry Bronson
AD 140 William Conrad
AD 141 Crystal Peoples-stokes
AD 142 Patrick Burke
AD 143 monica Wallace
AD 146 Karen mcmahon
NYC H+H Nurses Mobilize and win Pay Parity
NYSNA nurses at NYC Health+Hospitals (H+H) fought hard for and won a contract with pay parity last year. When H+H failed to implement the second parity increase owed effective July 31, nurses mobilized to demand answers. Management was unilaterally attempting to delay nurses’ parity pay to November. This was a contract violation and betrayal of all hard-working New York City public sector nurses. Nurses quickly mobilized and wore NYSNA red scrubs at H+H facilities to show their united demands for their hardearned parity increases.
Pay Parity Is a Must
“Our public hospitals are the backbone of healthcare in NYC, but we are always being asked to do more with less,” said NYSNA director at large and president of NYSNA’s NYC H+H/Mayorals Executive Council, Sonia Lawrence, RN, BSN. “Pay parity was necessary to stop the hemorrhaging of our nurses from leaving H+H. We
reached an agreement with the city last year, and it’s insulting to attempt to delay our parity pay.”
During the 2023 contract campaign, pay parity was the top-line goal as nurses faced high turnover rates and a $19,500/year pay disparity gap between private and public sector nurses. Nurses also pointed to H+H’s wasteful spending on expensive temp travel nurse contracts that cost more than three times the cost of employing staff nurses.
Since the contract victory last year, pay parity has helped H+H hire more than 2,000 new nurses and improve nurse retention rates. H+H nurses know that pay parity achieves safe staffing and refused to go back to the dark days of understaffing and thousands of nurse vacancies.
Fighting Back for Fair Pay
H+H management tried to blame the delay in pay on its antiquated payroll system, but members did not accept that excuse. NYSNA leaders had pushed for years, including in the last round of bargaining, for
H+H to improve its payroll system, because getting paid on time and correctly is a matter of respect.
For two Fridays in a row, nurses from all 11 H+H facilities wore their red NYSNA scrubs and took action for pay parity signing petition boards.
Nearly a dozen New York City elected officials, including Council Speak Adrienne Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander, showed their support and solidarity throughout the week on social media and demanded management deliver pay parity to nurses.
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, nurses were excited to share that their collective action was a victory! H+H announced that the new expected tentative pay date has been expedited from Nov. 8 to Sept. 27, 2024. This victory is a direct result of nurses’ involvement and solidarity.
“The mobilization and victory of nurses demonstrates our unity and resolve, showing that we will not back down in our fight to earn the respect we demand and deserve,” said Lawrence.
When we fight, we win!
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H+H nurses wear their NYsNA red scrubs for pay parity.
doH, do Your Job
Back in spring, NYSNA members joined with healthcare workers from several other unions in Albany to send a clear message about safe staffing: “DOH, do your job!” Nurses know that having the state legislature pass a law is only one step toward making a law succeed as it was intended, and that is true for the Hospital Clinical Staffing Committee law that was passed in 2021.
Since the law passed, NYSNA has been at the forefront of making sure the New York State Department of Health (DOH) implements the law. We have monitored every deadline for implementation and enforcement of the law, and we pushed the DOH and elected officials whenever progress seemed to slow or stall.
Our strong advocacy has benefited nurses and our patients. We pushed the DOH to launch an online reporting system for staffing complaints related to all patient care units so that members could quickly submit complaints when hospitals break the nurse-to-patient ratios and staffing standards outlined in their state plans and contracts.
Nurses at Albany Medical Center made good use of the DOH website to report regular staffing violations in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). NYSNA nurses painstakingly collected data on a spreadsheet, submitted their DOH complaints, filed Protests of Assignments and also brought complaints directly to management. Their action spurred a DOH investigation that has so far substantiated at least 50 staffing violations throughout the hospital, raised public awareness about the staffing crisis and how it impacts hospital wait times and quality care, and is putting pressure on the administration to settle a fair contract that prioritizes investing in safe patient care.1
Albany Med nurse Jennifer Kiehle, RN, said, “In the NICU, we experienced some deeply unsafe staffing and began filing DOH complaints. Even after the DOH launched its investigation, Albany Med managers continued to understaff our unit. The nurses
continued tracking staffing levels almost daily and filing complaints, and now we’re waiting for the hospital’s corrective action plan. It can’t come soon enough, because we care for the most vulnerable patients. We need the DOH to support us by ordering the hospital to share the staffing deficiency report and to improve staffing — not just in the NICU, but throughout the hospital.”
Advocating for safe staffing everywhere
Nurses everywhere are maximizing the law and pushing the DOH to have their backs with strong staffing enforcement. From June to July alone, NYSNA nurses filed over 75 complaints at over 50 hospitals in at least 10 different types of units. The complaints included understaffing, safe staffing standard violations, acuity issues, and missed meals and breaks. The complaints also included some ongoing procedural issues. For example, at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist, management submitted staffing plans to the state that nurses did not agree to and that directly contradict contractual staffing standards that are currently enforceable. Nurses at Ellis filed complaints that the hospital was still not posting staffing plans publicly, not scheduling regular staffing committee meetings and not releasing NYSNA members to attend.
Increasing Pressure
NYSNA leaders meet regularly with other healthcare worker unions in a multiunion steering committee to monitor problems with implementation of the law and push for change. The unions have sent joint letters to the DOH that have resulted in the DOH issuing “Dear CEO” letters to employers, instructing them to comply with the law. The most recent letter issued Aug. 7 demanded that hospital administrators comply with DOH investigations and share the findings of those investigations by sharing the DOH-issued statement of deficiency with frontline workers of the staffing committee.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, was also appointed to the staffing law’s independent advisory commis-
sion tasked with reviewing implementation of the law and making recommendations this fall. The commission had its first meetings in July, and we expect it will issue a report outlining issues with the law’s implementation and enforcement, along with recommendations to the state Legislature to improve
hospital staffing. For a refresher on the law’s implementation timeline, visit the NYSNA website.2
NYSNA member leaders are using every tactic possible to improve staffing — not just waiting for a report. Nurses continue to report data as staffing captains and use the data to improve staffing — through the DOH complaint process and through contract enforcement, including grievances, mediation and arbitration. NYSNA researchers are gathering our own data and analysis of what needs to improve with the law’s implementation and enforcement, and they intend to release more information soon to boost frontline advocacy.
Congratulations to all the NYSNA members who are working hard to gather data and are using their strong voices to push for safe staffing. Our steady advocacy is making a difference in every region of the state, and we won’t stop until we win safe staffing on every unit in every facility!
NYsNA Treasurer m ichelle Jones, msN, rN, ANPC, sent a strong message at the may multi- union Lobby Day in Albany.
Hudson Valley Hospital Nurses r atify Contract e xtension and wage reopener
after seeing NewYorkPresbyterian (NYP) facilities in New York City win strong wage increases and after long days of bargaining throughout the summer, NYP Hudson Valley Hospital nurses met two top priorities that their membership survey highlighted: a significant and immediate wage increase and a contract extension. Nurses voted to extend their contract until Oct. 31, 2026, with additional wage increases and a market adjustment added to base compensation on July 2026. Congratulations, NYP Hudson Valley Hospital nurses, on this win and a well-deserved raise.
safe staffing Victories stack up at Montefiore
in one month, NYSNA nurses in three Montefiore Medical Center units won safe staffing arbitration awards. At the Weiler/Einstein Hospital, a cardiac telemetry unit and a medical-surgical oncology floor, celebrated two staffing awards. The Moses campus, a family medicine palliative care unit, also celebrated a staffing win. Montefiore nurses have put forward eight staffing cases since the 2023 strike and have won every time. Arbitrators have awarded $290,000 in financial awards to the Montefiore nurses who worked understaffed. The bedrock of each of these successful cases are strong protests of assignment and compelling testimony from nurses describing the effects of understaffing.
ellis Medicine Nurses unanimously r atify New Contract
on June 13, NYSNA members at Ellis Medicine, which includes Ellis Hospital and Bellevue Woman’s Center, voted unanimously in favor of ratifying a new contract with Ellis Medicine, averting a potential strike. The contract includes across-the-board wage
Mohawk Valley Health system Nurses win Grievance Defending union rights
Last year, NYSNA nurses at Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) held several speak-outs to inform the community about the status of the merger agreement between St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and its potential impact on quality patient care. In response, MVHS management issued a “coaching” for participation in these legally protected activities. Nurses fought back by filing a grievance and in July received notice that they won! In accordance with a settlement, MVHS management must remove all references to the coaching documents issued for union activity on nurses’ files. This victory shows that NYSNA nurses will not accept management’s antiunion behavior and are committed to protecting our union rights to advocate on behalf of our patients and our practice!
increases, bonuses, and recruitment and retention incentives. Nurses successfully rejected proposals that would have elongated their workday without additional pay, increased health insurance costs and other givebacks that Ellis management proposed. Most importantly, nurses held the line on
safe staffing standards to protect patients and ensure quality care.
The contract ratification comes after 94% of nurses voted to authorize an unfair labor practice strike and after Ellis nurses won a landmark staffing arbitration with financial penalties. Congratulations, Ellis/Bellevue nurses!
Mount sinai eye and ear Nurses win a Fair
Contract
NYSNA nurses at Mount Sinai New York Eye and Ear Infirmary voted to ratify a new contract with 100% voting in favor of ratification. The new contract improves staffing enforcement in the event of critical staffing adjustments and staffing
violations, which had been a growing concern because of increasing nurse turnover. The contract also puts Mount Sinai Eye and Ear nurses on the path to pay parity with other Mount Sinai nurses in New York City. Congratulations, nurses!
Albert einstein College of Medicine Nurses r atify Contract!
Nurses at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) voted 100% to ratify a new contract on Wednesday, July 3. NYSNA nurses won commitments for funding the NYSNA pension and NYSNA healthcare plan. The contract
also improves retirement benefits and adds Juneteenth as a holiday. Finally, nurses secured competitive wage increases to ensure recruitment and retention in the facility. Congratulations, AECOM nurses, on this well-deserved victory!
Back in October 2023, Vassar Brothers Medical Center abruptly and unilaterally laid off several IV team nurses and cut the IV team in half. NYSNA nurses organized against the layoffs, spoke out and brought a staffing arbitration case challenging the hospital’s failure to abide by the staffing grid. They provided detailed testimony explaining the serious delays and poor patient outcomes resulting
Bronx Midwives Fight for a Fair Contract
NYSNA midwives of Physician Affiliated Group of New York (PAGNY)/ NYC Health+Hospitals are fighting for a new two-year contract. PAGNY midwives at Jacobi and North Central Bronx hospitals are struggling with safe staffing and the pressure to see too many patients in too short a time. Now they are
escalating their campaign and gaining community support through petitions, meeting with local lawmakers and sharing their stories. Midwives are demanding a fair contract with better pay and working conditions to retain midwives and improve maternal health in the Bronx communities they serve.
Mount sinai south Nassau Nurses Are Fighting for a Fair Contract
Nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau (MSSN) have been fighting management intimidation and retaliation as they bargain for their first contract. Because Mount Sinai has been subject to millions in staffing fines and has engaged in hospital closure attempts at Beth Israel, MSSN nurses know they are up against a healthcare corporation that consistently places profits before patients. Management at MSSN is also dragging its feet at
the negotiating table, but nurses are committed to win a first contract that protects Long Island patients.
Nurses know the answer is for Mount Sinai to invest in nurses to fix the deeper problems of chronic understaffing and the crisis of recruitment and retention. They are ready to show up strong at their next bargaining meeting to stand in unity for safe staffing and the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve!
from the cuts to the IV team. After hearing this testimony, Vassar Brothers agreed to restore the cut positions and work to improve training for all nurses on starting IVs. When we fight, we win!
More Nurses want to Join NYsNA
Nurses are continuing to see the value in joining NYSNA, the largest and strongest union for registered nurses in New York state. After the groundbreaking contract that Montefiore Nyack nurses won, care managers at Montefiore Nyack are seeking to join NYSNA. A majority of the care managers went to meet with HR on a lunch break on Tuesday, Aug. 27, to present their union authorization cards and request that the employer agree to bring their group into the union. However, HR refused to meet with the care managers and locked its office door.
When management didn’t respond, NYSNA filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) requesting an election. Nurses at this hospital are awaiting their election date, hoping to join NYSNA.
At Huntington Hospital/ Northwell Health on Long Island, nurses organized to join NYSNA and are pushing through the many obstacles in their path. They filed for an election in June, and in August, they marched to the regional NLRB with nearly 400 letters demanding that the NLRB schedule a union election as soon as possible. Huntington nurses are remaining strong in the face of this delay and are ready to take on Northwell Health once they win their union election for NYSNA!
NewYorkPresbyterian escalates Attacks on Nurses and Patient safety
Hospital executives at NYP are escalating their antiunion efforts and are now attacking nurses’ rights and our patients’ health. In an unprecedented move, NYP is suing to overturn an arbitration ruling ordering management to award $270,000 to understaffed nurses at the cardiothoracic intensive care unit. NYP is also doubling down on its efforts to illegally fire an NYP-Hudson Valley Hospital nurse leader and union organizer by filing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. This appeal comes after NYP had already lost three tribunals on the case. Each tribunal has ordered the reinstatement of the nurse with back pay.
NYP-Brooklyn Methodist nurses at four units intend to testify and show the arbitrator how more than one year’s worth of the hospital’s own staffing data demonstrates flagrant violations of the safe staffing standards in the contract. However, NYP filed a lawsuit in federal court to prevent scheduled a safe staffing arbitration. When the lawsuit was heard in federal court, the judge agreed with nurses and issued a scathing rebuttal of NYP’s attempt to stall the arbitration.
These are shameless and unprecedented attacks on nurses’ rights as workers and on patients’ safety, intended to delay and avoid accountability for safe staffing. Nurses are patient advocates and will not be silenced by NYP. We will continue speaking out and enforce safe staffing.
Vassar Nurses win reinstatement of IV Team
There Is Power in Diversity. NYsNA Celebrates at Labor and Cultural Parades
This summer, NYSNA participated in multiple parades celebrating the labor movement and the cultures of our diverse membership and New York’s communities.
Capital region NYSNA nurses kicked off the summer of solidarity and Pride month at the Capital Pride Parade and Festival on June 9. Albany is home to the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ community center in the country — the Pride Center — and nurses were so proud to celebrate at this parade.
Celebrating Pride
In June, NYSNA nurses and staff also were out at the New York City Pride Parade, celebrating the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the birthplace of the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. With ongoing attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights and gender-affirming care, it’s more important than ever to show up in solidarity and pride for LGBTQIA+ nurses and patients.
Celebrating Filipino Culture
Nurses and their families were proud to march and participate in the Filipino Day Parade in Albany! Nurses celebrated Filipino independence and being part of a long tradition of fighting for their rights.
NYSNA nurse Alani Roc, RN, spoke during the opening ceremony,
NYsNA nurses and family members celebrate Dominican pride and culture!
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams joined nurses at the West Indian Day Parade.
Nurses get ready to march at the Puerto r ican Day Parade!
We showed up union strong at the NYC Pride Parade!
highlighting the instrumental role Filipino nurses played in the last contract at Albany Medical Center. She told the community, “We continue to push forward, keeping close to our hearts the communities that we care for as we also fight for them. We cannot have quality patient care without safe staffing or the knowledge of experienced nurses.”
Juneteenth
In Buffalo, Erie County Medical Center NYSNA nurses had a wonderful time celebrating Black joy and Black history at the Juneteenth Festival in Buffalo. We were proud to celebrate at one of the country’s largest and proudest Juneteenth celebrations to spread the message that nurses care for our community and are committed to fighting for racial justice and health equity.
Celebrating Culture in NYC
The decorated floats, dancing and celebrations continued as nurses marched up Fifth Avenue for the National Puerto Rican Day parade to celebrate the rich history and culture of Puerto Rico. In August, NYSNA nurses also participated in the Dominican Day Parade in New York City. Together we celebrated Dominican culture and heritage in New York City with marching, playing music and dancing to showcase Dominican pride!
NYC Carnival
On Labor Day, Sept. 2, dozens of NYSNA members marched in the NYC Carnival, or West Indian Day Parade — the largest celebration of West Indian heritage and culture in North America! Cloudy skies didn’t stop one of the most colorful and energetic parades. Nurses and healthcare professionals danced along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn to celebrate Caribbean culture and spread the message that we are proud to care for all New Yorkers.
Labor and African American Day
On Sept. 10, New York City’s labor movement turned out big to the annual Labor Day Parade, which began with a mass at historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral and ended with a march up Fifth Avenue to Central Park. NYSNA members spread the message that union nurses care for New York and that workers have the power to win!
NYSNA nurses closed out the summer of celebration and soli-
darity at the 55th annual African American Day Parade in Harlem on Sept. 15. Nurses and other community leaders marched through the heart of the city’s historic Black
neighborhood in honor of African Americans who have made key contributions to the African American community through politics and government.
Labor Day parade
Nurses celebrated Freedom Day at the Buffalo’s Juneteenth Parade.
Construction in Healthcare facilities what to Anticipate
and How to respond to Health and safety Hazards
Construction and renovation in healthcare facilities can be good news — at least once the work is completed and provided it has been done correctly. Too often, however, the construction activity itself or the final product can result in unwanted surprises — including many avoidable health and safety hazards for staff and patients. Because many healthcare facilities must function 24/7, it is common for renovation or construction work to be done while staff continue to provide patient care nearby.
“We thought renovation work was not being done safely, so we had NYSNA Health and Safety investigate,” explained Theresa McGorty, RN, from Flushing Hospital. “The importance of staff involvement cannot be stressed enough,” she continued. “A preliminary review could have avoided the issues of inadequate locker room space, call rooms for the residents, attendings, and anesthesiologist. It was not until the plans were approved and construction began that these problems presented themselves and left management scrambling for space to put these required spaces. The space lacked a dirty utility room to adequately confine trash in a labor and delivery unit. Management didn’t realize this until the trash was in the hallway and new space had to be sought out. Construction is ongoing as the neighboring NICU is now under renovation. The leaks, temperature control problems and storage space shortages are still unfolding!”
NYSNA members have documented more recent problems with construction, including:
l Construction of a new MRI suite that resulted in strong chemical odors on a unit located below the construction area.
l Dust and other hazardous materials migrated into a care area due to loose plastic sheeting that was supposed to seal off an area under renovation.
l Construction caused loud grinding noises and smoke in the hallways outside of the construction zone.
The challenges don’t end once the actual construction work is wrapped up. NYSNA members often discover that the brand-new
unit, area or wing has issues related to staff and patient safety — such as poor visibility, failure to accommodate equipment properly or failure to install ceiling lifts, for example.
oversight and regulations
Facility management is responsible for preventing a range of hazards during construction activity and must:
l Maintain life safety systems (alarms, fire suppression, medical gases, means of egress for occupants, etc.) in operable condition.
l Control noise, vibration, dust, chemicals, odors, asbestos, mold, lead, and other agents created or released by construction activity.
l Ensure that there will be no interruption of electricity, water or other utilities during construction.
l Maintain the ability to respond promptly to all emergencies.
l Maintain security during construction-related disruptions and the presence of outside workers in the facility.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the New York State Public Employer Safety and Health Bureau, and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) have standards related to construction work. The Joint Commission, which has guidance on construction in healthcare settings, states that employers should conduct a prework assessment and draft an infection control risk assessment (ICRA) that outlines the potential hazards and the means
for controlling them. The Facilities Guideline Institute of the American Institute of Architects provides excellent guides to renovation and construction in healthcare, which the DOH and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expect health systems to follow.
Frontline staff Involvement Is key
One of the most important ways to make sure construction and renovation have positive outcomes is to include frontline staff as part of the planning process. Architects and construction workers know their jobs, but they don’t always know the best design for providing healthcare. For that, nurses need a seat at the table.
NYSNA members can insist that frontline staff input be taken into account. Early action can often prevent future problems. Even after work is completed, NYSNA members have successfully intervened to address shortcomings related to new construction.
Taking Action
NYSNA members can take the following actions to help ensure a safe and positive construction experience:
1. Use labor-management meetings and other forums to ask for information and provide input regarding upcoming renovation and construction projects.
2. Request a copy of the ICRA and all plans to ensure that patients and staff are kept safe from construction-related hazards.
3. Ask whom to contact if staff see or are concerned about hazardous conditions during construction. There should be a way to communicate directly with someone in charge of the construction project without going through bureaucratic delays.
4. Use the opportunity to advocate for improved conditions such as workplace violence controls, adequate supply storage space, safer nurses’ stations and ceiling lift tracks.
5. Notify your NYSNA representative and the NYSNA Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at healthandsafety@nysna.org if you hear of any plans for construction or renovation. They can help obtain information and work with members to ensure a safe workplace.
renovation debris left in a hospital hallway.
A labor and deliver unit with poorly sealed asbestos renovation area.
Nancy Hagans speaks at the New York state AFL-CIo’s First women’s Committee Meeting
This year, the New York State AFL-CIO held its first Women’s Committee meeting. Approximately 70 women labor leaders representing unions from different industries across the state gathered in Albany to discuss this new committee dedicated to exploring women’s issues in the workforce, labor movement and beyond.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, was named committee co-chair and was invited to present at the inaugural meeting. She took the opportunity to shed light on the Black maternal health crisis and nurses’ role in confronting this crisis.
we All Have a stake in the Maternal Crisis
Nurses are at the forefront of public health initiatives and have continually taken a stand on key issues, including maternal health, mental health, healthcare access and more. We see firsthand the concerning disparities in maternal and child health outcomes we see in our communities. More than ever, nurses must address the way our healthcare system exacerbates existing racial and economic inequalities.
The U.S. currently has the highest rate of death of wealthy nations
important
among pregnant women, and for the first time in two decades,1 this number is rising.2 Maternal mortality increases fall along racial lines and are caused by existing racial inequities and an increasingly profit-driven healthcare system that understaffs labor and delivery units, especially in public and safety-net hospitals.
NYSNA nurses have been at the forefront of key fights in public health that have specifically affected women. Last year, nurses in the Bronx fought back against Montefiore Health System’s proposed closure of the Nurse-Family Partnership program, a program serving at-risk pregnant people and newborns in the Bronx and Yonkers, and eventually saved the program. Similar fights took place with nurses at Ellis and Bellevue.
Nurses and union Members Lead the way
There are persistent racial healthcare disparities in other areas, including everything from heart disease rates to cervical cancer death rates.3 Nurses can leverage our position as experts in care and leaders in the labor movement to address these issues of racial, gender, social and economic justice. It is as a united front wielding our
New MetLife Life insurance Benefits
Do you know about your new, free life insurance benefits from MetLife? As nurses on the frontlines, we often plan for the unexpected, sometimes at the expense of planning for our own futures. Make sure to take end-of-life planning into your own hands and take advantage of this brand new benefit at no cost to you: basic term life insurance and basic personal accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage in the amount of $20,000 from MetLife.
As of Aug. 1, 2024, all members represented for collective bargaining and in good standing are automatically enrolled in this benefit program. Benefits include basic life insurance and AD&D benefits for covered loss-
labor power, as we have shown the hospital industry countless times, that we can fight for a more just and equitable healthcare system and world.
As leaders in women’s health and at the forefront of the labor movement, we’re committed to using our power to address issues like the Black maternal health crisis and take on other issues that impact our patients, communities and all working families. NYSNA members are also excited to work with our union siblings and this new Women’s Committee to continue that work on a larger scale.
es that are the result of an accidental injury or loss of life, including line of duty death benefits. In addition to this important benefit, you’ll also have access to MetLife Advantages, which include will preparation, beneficiary grief counseling, claim assistance and more.
Your Family's Future
Nurses and healthcare workers have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and countless emergencies. Life and AD&D insurance are important benefits that can help protect your family’s future.
For more information and instructions on designating a beneficiary, visit www.nysnawinstonbenefits.com or call 866-483-1124.
Pres. Hagans joins the co-chairs of the new Women’s Committee.
official Call to Convention
2024 Convention of the New York state Nurses Association
Michelle Jones, MsN, rN, ANPC, NYsNA secretary october 29-30, saratoga Hilton, saratoga springs, NY
Proposed Bylaw Amendments submitted by the NYsNA Board of Directors
Bylaw Proposal #1
Amending NYSNA Bylaws Article XII, Section 5B, to change the deadline for submission of resolutions from 30 days to 60 days prior to Convention.
Submitted by the NYSNA Board of Directors
Text of the Proposal:
ARTICLE XII – CONVENTION
Section 5. Procedural Issues B) In order to allow for discussion and debate, Convention resolutions must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the association at least thirty (30) sixty (60) days prior to the Convention, or as otherwise provided in policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors and approved by the Convention.
POSITION OF THE NYSNA BOARD
Action: The NYSNA Board of Directors’ recommendation is for delegates to vote “YES” on this proposed amendment to the NYSNA bylaws.
Rationale: This proposal would move the submission deadline for resolutions to 60 days prior to Convention from the current deadline of 30 days prior. The current 30-day deadline does not provide sufficient time for resolutions to be reviewed, perfected as needed, and distributed to delegates well in advance of Convention. Extending the submission deadline to 60 days prior to Convention would allow for advance distribution of submitted resolutions and ensure that delegates can discuss Convention business with members of their local bargaining units.
Bylaw Proposal #2
Adjusting the term of NYSNA Convention delegates elected in 2024 to decrease the number of union elections occurring in the same year.
Submitted by the NYSNA Board of Directors
Text of the Proposal:
ARTICLE XII – CONVENTION
Section 2. Delegates
E) Term of Office for Delegates
The term of office for delegates shall be three (3) years, commencing upon their election and continuing until the election of delegates at the next regularly scheduled NYSNA election. *
*Delegates elected in the 2024 election of delegates to the NYSNA Convention shall serve a term of four years and, thereafter, shall serve three-year terms.
POSITION OF THE NYSNA BOARD
Action: The NYSNA Board of Directors’ recommendation is for delegates to vote “YES” on this proposed amendment to the NYSNA Bylaws.
Rationale: In 2024, NYSNA members voted in three union-wide elections to select (1) NNU national board officers and delegates to the NNU Convention, (2) the NYSNA Board of Directors, and (3) delegates to the annual NYSNA Convention.
Under Article V of the NYSNA Bylaws, members elected a new Board of Directors, who serve threeyear terms of office and will be subject to term limits (no more than 2 consecutive terms in any Board office or 9 consecutive years on the Board in total).
Under Article XII of the NYSNA Bylaws, members voted in separate elections to select delegates to participate in the annual NYSNA Convention. Under Article XII, Section 2(E) of the NYSNA Bylaws, these delegates also serve three-year terms, but they are not subject to term limits.
Finally, under the terms of the NNU Constitution, NYSNA members also voted for the first time as a new NNU affiliate to select its Council of Presidents, secretarytreasurer, vice-presidents, and NYSNA delegates to the NNU
Convention. Each of these positions also serve three-year terms under the NNU Constitution.
Given the current structure of NYSNA’s Bylaws and the NNU Constitution, NYSNA members will again be asked to vote in three separate elections to fill these local and national offices in 2027.
Direct member elections are costly to run and increase NYSNA’s fiscal budget needs during election years. Changing the dates of elections will allow NYSNA to smooth out its budget allocations for these expenses.
These elections also require a significant amount of NYSNA field staff time and resources to distribute election notices, process nominations, prepare and distribute ballot information, and provide member education.
Finally, the Board notes that the overlapping elections can create confusion among members or induce “election fatigue,” which can have a negative effect on voter turnout as members must distinguish between NNU national convention delegates
and NNU national Board officers with the same or similar titles to those of candidates running for NYSNA Board officers and NYSNA Convention delegates.
NYSNA has no authority to change the dates of the NNU election or three-year terms of NNU. The NYSNA Convention, however, does have the power under Article XII, Section 3(D) to amend NYSNA’s Bylaws to address this problem by changing the terms of office and thus the election dates for internal NYSNA elections.
The Board is of the opinion that the least disruptive and fairest way to address the problem is to extend the term in office of the currently elected Convention delegates by one year on a one-time basis.
This will allow the NYSNA Board and NNU national elections to proceed as scheduled in 2027 but move the next NYSNA Convention delegate elections to 2028. Subsequent elections will be held every three years, but they will no longer fall in the same year as the NYSNA Board and NNU national elections.
Proposed Bylaw Amendments submitted by Convention Delegates
The NYSNA Board of Directors has carefully reviewed and analyzed three bylaw amendments submitted by Roxanna M. Garcia of Montefiore Hospital. The Board has unanimously determined to recommend that the Convention vote “NO” on each of these three proposals.
While the proponent alleges that these proposals would advance transparency and democratic governance, they are fundamentally anti-democratic. If adopted these proposals could result in chaos, legal peril, and internal fighting for NYSNA, thus advancing management’s agenda, not NYSNA’s goals. At the very least, the proposals would divert attention and major resources away from our core functions as a Union: to represent our members and to lead the fight for
better health care for our patients and communities.
A summary and detailed explanation as to the reasons why the Board strongly recommends against the adoption of these amendments follows after the proposed amendments.
#1 -- Title: Article XIV— referendum and recall (New Article)
Submitted by: Roxanna M. Garcia, Delegate, Montefiore Hospital
Co-sponsors: Marion Parkins, Harlem Hospital
Erin Hogan, Mount Sinai
Bianca Maynard, Montefiore Moses
Karine Raymond, Montefiore Weiler
Others (Non-Delegates):
Rovendra Permaul, Mount Sinai Maria Duncan, Harlem
Article XIV— referendum and recall
Section 1.
The Voting Delegates or the Board of Directors may order a referendum with respect to any subject or policy within their jurisdiction or as otherwise provided in these Bylaws.
Section 2.
a) A referendum shall be ordered by the Board of Directors of the Association if twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting delegates of the Association request in writing to the Secretary of the Association their desire for a referendum on any particular subject, including recall of any officers or any action of the Convention or the Board of Directors.
b) The notice shall include the rationale for said referendum. Such request may be presented in an electronic petition provided each signatory is a voting delegate of the Association, and the petition includes their full name, address, work location (as applicable), phone number and email address.
Section 3.
a) Once such request is received by the Secretary of the Association, a notice of referendum shall be sent by mail and email to members if a recall and voting delegates for all other referenda.
b) Ballots shall be forwarded to each member in good standing (if a recall) or delegate in good standing for all other referenda by mail or via a secure online electronic voting system by the Secretary of the Association.
c) The notice of referendum and the ballots shall contain the proposition to be voted upon as well as the rationale for said referendum and shall require a return within sixty (60) days from the date of mailing to the delegates or members.
Section 4.
a) All recall and referendum votes from the voting delegates or members must meet the procedural requirements which apply to the election of officers.
Section 5.
a) Any officer or member of the Board of Directors, including any Director At-Large or Regional Director, may be recalled by a
majority of those members voting (at large or per region, respectively) if a majority of the votes cast in such a referendum favor recall.
b) Other non-recall referenda will be implemented if a majority of the voting delegates favor said referenda.
Renumber the other Articles as applicable.
Rationale from Montefiore Delegate:
The proposed amendment to the NYSNA bylaws, introducing New Article XIV — Referendum and Recall, is a crucial step towards fostering a truly democratic union where the voices of its members resonate powerfully in the decisionmaking process. This amendment empowers the rank-and-file members by providing them with a robust mechanism to initiate referendums on vital issues and policies, ensuring that their concerns and perspectives are not just heard but acted upon. By requiring the Board of Directors to order a referendum upon receiving a petition from just twenty percent (20%) of the delegates, this amendment democratizes power, making leadership more accountable and responsive. The inclusion of modern, secure electronic voting systems further enhances accessibility and participation, ensuring that every member, irrespective of their location or schedule, can exercise their right to vote. This amendment is not merely about procedural changes; it is about affirming the fundamental principle that a union’s strength lies in its members. By giving them a direct and potent voice in their union’s affairs, we reinforce the trust, transparency, and collective solidarity that are the bedrock of a truly democratic organization. This amendment ensures that the dues members pay translate into real influence and control over their union, safeguarding their right to participate fully in shaping the future of their association.
PosITIoN oF THe NYsNA BoArD
Action: The NYSNA Board of Directors’ recommendation is for the delegates to vote no on this proposed amendment.
Rationale:
l Enables a small minority (20%) of Convention delegates to force a
vote to recall any or all board members at any time and for any reason, that would cost the union upwards of $100,000 per recall vote. And if the recall resulted in the need to conduct an additional election, double that amount.
l Enables a small minority (20%) of delegates to force a vote to recall a regional director outside of their region.
l Enables a small minority (20%) of delegates to force a referendum vote at any time and for any reason on a decision made by a majority of the Convention delegates.
l Enables the Board of Directors to force a referendum vote at any time and for any reason on a decision made by a majority of Convention delegates.
l The amendment does not provide for discussion and debate of referenda which are central to the ability of our deliberate bodies in making decisions. Our bylaws already provide the ability for at least one-third (33.33%) of the delegates to call for a special Convention, which would provide for discussion and debate of the issues they want addressed.
l Requires that referendum votes be conducted in the same manner as the election of union officers, which would cost the union thousands of dollars per vote.
l Undermines the current standard in our bylaws for the presence of a quorum at Convention in order to make decisions which mandates at least 200 delegates and representation of each region.
l While the makers of the proposal claim it would give rank and file dues paying members “a direct and potent voice in their union’s affairs”, their proposal only permits the delegates to vote on referendanot the entire membership.
The first bylaw amendment is called Referendum and Recall and proposes the adoption of a new Proposed Article XIV to the NYSNA Bylaws. As you know, the members of NYSNA’s Board of Directors are elected in fair and free elections by the NYSNA membership every three years, and NYSNA Convention delegates have no official role in those elections.
The Recall proposal would permit a small minority of Conventions (20%), perhaps centered in several large hospitals, to force a vote to
recall any or all Board members by the membership at any time and for any reason –- at a cost of over $100,000 per recall vote. The Recall proposal would also allow a minority of delegates who don’t even necessarily live in the region to deprive the members of the region of their chosen representative. For example, the new Board was just recently elected in July. Under this proposal, a 20% minority could continue to force snap elections in September, October, etc. if their preferred candidate didn’t win- essentially negating the will of the majority that just voted on their preferred leaders. This proposal does not advance democratic majority rule. It instead allows a small fraction to strangle the ability of the democratically elected NYSNA Board to advance the Union’s priorities. It could bog down the Union in endless internal battles – indeed, a successful recall vote could necessitate the need for another election with more confusion and eating up of resources. The healthcare industry in NY would love to see an unfocused NYSNA that is bogged down in never-ending internal battles.
The second part of this proposed bylaw would allow the same minority of Convention delegates (20%) to force a vote of all the Convention delegates - at any time and for any reason – to reverse any decision made by the majority of the democratically elected Convention delegates or the Board, all without the detailed information, discussion and analysis that is conducted in these deliberative bodies before any decision. Similarly, it would also allow the Board of Directors to force a vote to reverse a decision made by the majority of Convention delegates. For example, under this proposal any decision made by Convention delegates at this year’s Convention by a 75% supermajority could be forced to an election the next day by the losing super minority.
No allies or opponents could rely on any decision of the NYSNA Convention delegates or Board because it would always be subject to reversal at the instigation of a minority of Convention delegates. Our friends couldn’t count on our commitments, and our bosses would exploit every second-guessed decision.
This proposal, like the one for recall of Board members, does not advance democratic majority rule, or the voice of individual members who are not entitled to vote under this proposal, but instead allows a small faction to strangle the ability of the democratically elected NYSNA Convention delegates and Board to advance the union’s priorities.
NYSNA has an annual Convention to allow full debate on issues and a process for 33% of the delegates to call for a special convention. Overriding this process with a mail ballot deprives the delegates of decisions made after full debate.
#2 -- Title: Proposed amendment to Article IV –Board of Directors
Submitted by: Roxanna M. Garcia, Delegate, Montefiore Hospital
Co-sponsors:
Marion Parkins, Harlem Hospital Erin Hogan, Mount Sinai
A. All decisions, resolutions, and actions taken by the Board of Directors, including those made based on discussion during executive sessions or through polling of board members, must be documented in writing. This documentation shall include the full text of the decision or resolution, the date of the decision, the names of the directors who voted for, against, or abstained from the decision, and the rationale(s) or explanations for the decision.
B. Minutes of all Board meetings, as well as all resolutions and decisions, shall be recorded accurately and made available for inspection by any member in good standing of the Association. These records shall be maintained in a secure but accessible manner, ensuring transparency and accountability.
C. All minutes and resolutions must be published on the association’s
website under the members-only section no later than 60 days from the date of the decision, resolution and action was taken.
D. While ensuring transparency, the Association will safeguard sensitive personal information. Any portions of the minutes or resolutions containing confidential information may be redacted to protect the privacy of individuals, while still providing comprehensive insight into the decisions and actions of the Board.
E. Members shall be notified of their right to inspect Board minutes and resolutions at least once annually through the Association’s official communication channels, ensuring that all members are aware of their rights to transparency and accountability.
Rationale from Montefiore Delegate:
The proposed amendment to the NYSNA bylaws, amending Article IV, is another pivotal advancement towards ensuring a genuinely democratic union where transparency and accountability are paramount. By mandating that all Board decisions, including those made based on discussion in executive sessions and through board member polling, be meticulously documented in writing and accessible for member inspection, guarantees that our union’s leadership remains answerable to its members. It fortifies the fundamental democratic principle that those who pay dues have an unequivocal right to scrutinize and influence the actions taken on their behalf. This transparency not only builds trust between the union’s leadership and its members but also empowers every member to actively participate in and shape the union’s direction. By enshrining these rights in our bylaws, we are reinforcing our commitment to a union that is by the members, for the members, and ensuring that the collective voice of our membership drives our decisions and actions. This amendment is a profound affirmation of NYSNA dedication to a transparent, accountable, and democratic union. This is what our Union should look like.
PosITIoN
oF THe NYsNA
Action: The NYSNA Board of Directors’ recommendation is for the
delegates to vote no on this proposed amendment.
Rationale:
The second bylaw amendment, called Written Records of Decisions, would create a new Article IV.6 to the NYSNA Bylaws.
As you may know, the Board publishes a public Board Action Report on the NYSNA website describing the major actions that the Board has taken, without disclosing any confidential information that could hurt NYSNA’s efforts. The vast majority of the decisions our Board makes are already communicated in detail to the membership through multiple avenues. Some examples are NYSNA’s mission and vision, the Convention theme and program, policies under their purview, legislative priorities and campaigns to advance the goals of the Union.
In addition, any NYSNA member can go to the NYSNA office and request to see the minutes of NYSNA Board meetings, which do not include any legal advice given in executive session but may include information on strategy for negotiation and organizing campaigns. In this way, members can view the minutes, but the minutes are not given out in physical copies or by email, all to ensure that they are not copied and/or somehow find their way - as documents these days often do - to emails, texts, management, the press, or others in ways which would hurt NYSNA’s legal, bargaining, and negotiating positions. 2023 and 2024 have been two of our most successful years in NYSNA, and the employers across NY would relish the opportunity to pore over our strategy and inner workings. In fact, members may be aware that such an incident did occur in the recent past which prompted the board to adopt a confidentiality policy to protect the union from harm.
The proposed bylaw would require that all minutes and resolutions be posted on NYSNA’s membersonly web site (from which they could be copied, photographed, etc.) The bylaw would protect confidential personal information, but would not protect legal advice, or negotiating or organizing strategy. This Bylaw creates a huge risk of the leaking of confidential
legal, bargaining, and organizing information, and is not in the best interests of the members of NYSNA.
#3 -- Title: Proposed Budget Amendments
Submitted by: Roxanna M. Garcia, Delegate, Montefiore Hospital
Co-sponsors:
Marion Parkins, Harlem Hospital
Erin Hogan, Mount Sinai
Bianca Maynard, Montefiore Moses
Karine Raymond, Montefiore Weiler
Others (Non-Delegates):
Rovendra Permaul, Mount Sinai
Maria Duncan, Harlem
Article VI – standing Committees
Section 5. Committee on Finance
a) The committee shall be composed of five members including the treasurer and two other members of the Board of Directors. The treasurer shall serve as chairperson.
b) The committee shall:
1) review the financial status of this association;
2) advise regarding financial policies;
3) Until the fiscal year 20252026, prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors. Beginning with the budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, the Committee will make a detailed report of its findings and prepare an annual budget (such as those given to the Committee and Board) to the 2025 Convention and make recommendations to the Convention including a budget for the succeeding year’s operations, to be approved or amended by the Convention.
4) At least ten (10) days prior to the first day of convention the detailed report of the committee’s findings and the prepared annual budget will be made available to all members of this association online in the members only section of this association’s website.
This Bylaws amendment will necessitate an additional change for consistency Article IV -Board of Directors, Section 3, Functions as follows:
g) Adopt an annual budget for presentation to the Delegated Convention.
CONTINueD FrOm PAGe 21
Rationale from Montefiore Delegate:
These proposed amendments to the NYSNA bylaws, shifting the approval of the annual budget from the Board of Directors to convention delegates, marks another pivotal step towards democratizing our organization’s financial decision-making process. By placing this responsibility in the hands of convention delegates, who represent the diverse voices and interests within our association, we ensure that our financial priorities truly reflect the collective will of our members. This change not only enhances transparency but also reinforces our commitment to inclusivity and democratic governance. It signifies a progressive leap towards a more accountable and member-driven organization, where every nurse’s voice counts in shaping our future. As we navigate the complexities of healthcare advocacy, this amendment underscores our dedication to upholding the highest standards of governance
and financial stewardship, ensuring that NYSNA remains a beacon of integrity and effectiveness in advancing the rights and welfare of nurses across New York State.
PosITIoN oF THe NYsNA BoArD
Action: The NYSNA Board of Directors’ recommendation is for the delegates to vote no on this proposed amendment.
Rationale:
The third Bylaw Amendment, called Budget Amendments, would amend Article VI. 5.b of the NYSNA Bylaws and would transfer from the Board to the Annual Convention the approval of NYSNA’s detailed annual budget. This proposal is dangerous for many reasons:
l The detailed Budget takes substantial time and many, many hours to review, analyze, discuss and consider, all with the assistance of the Finance Committee of the Board, NYSNA staff, and external financial professionals NYSNA
Nurses Honoring Nurses
By Donna Williams, MSN, RN, President, Richmond County Nurses Honor Guard Inc. and NYSNA Member at Staten Island University Hospital
The Nurses Honor Guard is an organization that offers the Nightingale Tribute and Final Call to Duty for deceased nurses. The guard performs this tribute at funeral or memorial services, lighting the Nightingale lamp and reading the tribute. When the nurse does not respond to the final call to duty, the guard extinguishes the lamp and presents it to the family along with a white rose. The rose signifies the nurse’s dedication to the profession.
History of the Nurses Honor Guard
The Kansas State Nurses Association began the Nurses Honor Guard in 2003. For a long time, it was a service not offered anywhere else. Gradually nurses began to see this at conferences they attended, and a handful of groups started around the country. In 2011, one of those nurses attended a conference in Detroit and brought the concept
consults with. You democratically elect the Board to undertake this painstaking task.
l The members of the Board are fiduciaries under federal and state law and their decisions on the Budget must be consistent with those fiduciary obligations, all subject to legal and financial advice. Convention delegates are not fiduciaries under the law, and the Board might not be able to implement aspects of a Conventionapproved budget if not consistent with the Board’s fiduciary obligations. Further - what if a Convention budget violates NYSNA’s labor contracts with its staff? All in all, this proposal is a recipe for chaos.
l What happens if the Convention, at its once-a-year meeting, fails to adopt a budget? Does all work of NYSNA grind to a halt? Do NYSNA employees get paid? Would NYSNA have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for multiple Conventions?
l How would NYSNA be able to respond to a major attack from the healthcare industry or a major disaster- like another pandemic or hurricane - that required substantial changes to the budget? Would another Convention need to be organized?
l This proposal would leave NYSNA unable to meet emergency needs and essentially paralyze us.
The Board has concluded that these three bylaws proposals will cause irreparable damage to NYSNA by creating a chaotic structure, permitting a minority of delegates to undermine the decision of the majority, and impede the ability of a democratically elected Board of Directors to fulfill their role efficiently and appropriately as a board of directors, and by disclosing confidential negotiating, organizing, and legal information reviewed by the Board. We strongly urge you to vote “NO” on these proposals
back to her professional practice group in Lansing, Michigan. Julia Godby Murray saw the presentation and decided she needed to take this to nurses all over the country. She slowly began reaching out to groups through social media and at this point has helped organize over 250 groups. New groups are forming at a rapid rate.
The Nurses Honor Guard helps nurses bring back the dignity and respect for their profession. The service the guard provides helps families heal after the loss of their loved one. Because nurses are natural healers, this adds another opportunity for nurses to continue doing what they love to do: heal.
The richmond County Nurses Honor Guard
The Richmond County Nurses Honor Guard Inc. (RCNHG) was
established in December 2023. RCNHG is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) corporation. The organization serves Staten Island.
The 47 current guard members volunteer their time to participate in services for their deceased peers.
The RCNHG’s work is funded by membership dues and donations from the community.
For more information including how to volunteer, donate to support the guard’s work or request a Nurses Honor Guard service, visit the website at richmondcountynurseshonorguard.org.
