New York
nurse New York City edition | december 2018
the official publication of the new york state nurses association Resolutions
approved at convention pp. 7-12
Delivering the healthcare New Yorkers deserve Nurses make the convention a success, pp. 3, 13, 15
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New York Nurse december 2018
Peace on earth, good will toward...
A By Judy SheridanGonzalez, RN NYSNA President
Advocating for patients. Advancing the profession.SM Board of Directors President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, MSN, FNP First Vice President Anthony Ciampa, RN Second Vice President Karine M. Raymond, RN, MSN Secretary Tracey Kavanagh, RN, BSN Treasurer Patricia Kane, RN Directors at Large Anne Bové, RN, MSN, BC, CCRN, ANP Judith Cutchin, RN Seth Dressekie, RN, MSN, NP Jacqueline Gilbert, RN Nancy Hagans, RN Robin Krinsky, RN Lilia V. Marquez, RN Nella Pineda-Marcon, RN, BC Verginia Stewart, RN Marva Wade, RN Regional Directors Southeastern Yasmine Beausejour, RN Southern Sean Petty, RN Central Marion Enright, RN Lower Hudson/NJ Jayne Cammisa, RN, BSN Western Chiqkena Collins, RN Eastern Martha Wilcox, RN Executive Editor Jill Furillo, RN, BSN, PHN Executive Director Editorial offices located at: 131 W 33rd St., New York, NY 10001 Phone: 212-785-0157 x 159 Email: communications@nysna.org Website: www.nysna.org Subscription rate: $33 per year ISSN (Print) 1934-7588/ISSN (Online) 1934-7596 ©2018, All rights reserved
t holiday time, messages about world peace and love proliferate in the media. Ironically, these concepts can be asphyxiated by more potent messages: buy! buy! buy! One reason we see suicide and stress-related deaths skyrocket in this period—as any nurse can attest—is the sense of inadequacy and loneliness that descends upon many people. People feel inadequate because no matter how much they spend it never seems enough. They feel lonely because advertising, media and basic holiday hype make relationships and life look so easy and wonderful. Little reflects the challenges we face to make ends meet, safely raise and protect our families, find meaning and satisfaction in our jobs, feel nourished in our relationships with friends, family and partners. Americans work longer hours and have less vacation and holiday time than our counterparts in industrialized nations. Job stresses surpass those in these countries. There are more mass shootings and higher violent crime rates. Our health statistics reflect a downward spiral while the rest of the world sees improvements. Our workplaces are dangerous. Addiction continues to plague our communities. Many family and neighbor support systems have fallen apart. Entertainment—formerly a group activity—has been technologically transformed into solitary activity.
Hope for 2019
At the same time, we see a growth in social awareness—and action—largely in response to the hateful diatribe, scandals and cutbacks coming from Washington. Young people have led the way in demanding that the world must become safer, kinder and cleaner. Community and labor organizations have taken up the call to demand social change that reaches beyond their neighborhood or workplace borders. The “Fight for 15” has been led by unions and worker centers. Religious, labor and community groups have united to protect immigrant refu-
need to come together as a world community…before it’s too late.
The response from the powerful few
gees—especially children—from being harmed simply because they escaped desperate and dangerous circumstances. Mobilizations to assist victims of climate-induced disasters (hurricanes, uncontrolled wildfires, earthquakes, floods) have swelled the ranks of all of these groups. Support for “Improved and Expanded Medicare for All,” a “single payer” funding mechanism that removes predatory insurance companies and ensures universal quality coverage, has skyrocketed. The New York Health Act received an overwhelming vote of support by the New York City Council earlier this month and is being taken seriously across the state. The struggle for safe staffing ratios has reached center stage in contract negotiations for tens of thousands of us in New York, in the state legislature—where it will finally be discussed in the Senate—and in the hearts and minds of the public. Our union has successfully framed the narrative that quality, compassionate care can’t exist absent adequate staffing. Our success in obtaining significant improvements in working conditions and contracts resulted in organizing successes in three hospitals this past year, defying the trend of union losses that have plagued the nation. Internationally, youth and marginalized communities have led the demand that polluting countries, like ours, cease harmful practices that are burning up our planet and transition to sustainable, public energy solutions. As emphasized in the COP 24 hearings held in Poland this month, time is running out. We
As income inequality has separated the nation into a tiny minority of the super-wealthy and a vast majority of those who work or seek work, social consciousness has risen, pushing many people to take a stand, as described above. Predictably, the controlling forces are launching a propaganda war against our progressive social agenda. Organizations spring up overnight to defeat legislation that supports healthcare justice, social and economic equity and broader initiatives that will improve our society. We saw this when the Massachusetts staffing proposition—with initial resounding public support—was defeated after hospital associations spent many millions on a dishonest campaign to deceive the public. We now see this in New York in relation to our staffing, healthcare and community initiatives. We have to inoculate ourselves against this manipulative, destructive and self-serving behavior.
The future is in our hands
The willingness to fight for what’s right is the only way “common people” have made history—a history we rarely learn in school. As we move toward a nation of haves and have-nots, we can work together to transform that social reality—in little and big ways. Nurses have transformative powers: we impact our patients in lifechanging ways every day. Imagine that power expanded beyond the hospital walls, in unity with others of the same mind.
convention 2018
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Delivering the healthcare New Yorkers deserve
NYSNA
’s first delegated convention was a success on many fronts. It drew more a thousand members from every region and every kind of bargaining unit. The meaning of our theme—Delivering the Healthcare New Yorkers Deserve—was debated in the main hall, woven into the themes of 25 workshops, expressed in speeches from NYSNA leaders and other union heads, framed by messages given by elected officials, and embraced by friends of NYSNA and others in attendance.
trained and provided with necessary resources, will our patients truly receive the care they deserve. ‘Safe staffing saves lives’ is not a cliché, it is a prophesy.” Central Park rally
And in a profit-oriented health system, nurses are fighting to defend services—for the mentally ill, for those with chronic illnesses—whether they are the “most profitable” or not.
Hundreds of members spilled out of the convention onto the streets of Manhattan, marching to Central Park to rally with our message of the healthcare New Yorkers deserve, chanting, “We are nurses, mighty, mighty nurses” (see p. 5). Hospital management is experiencing our might this year: 15,000 RNs are currently bargaining in the private sector and 8,000 more will be bargaining soon in the public
Dr. Oxiris Barbot, Acting Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Safe staffing saves lives
The determination of NYSNA members to deliver that deserved healthcare is powerful. That’s why our demand for safe staffing resonates with such strength. We know that quality patient care and safe staffing are inextricably linked. That message was one that underpinned our 2018 Convention. NYSNA President Judy SheridanGonzalez, RN, who opened the convention, shared this message: “Every year we work harder than ever to achieve safe staffing through minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. Only when there are enough nurses,
Continued on page 15
Members raise their placards in the main hall.
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New York Nurse december 2018
We say organize!
T By Jill Furillo, RN NYSNA Executive Director
his year NYSNA members stepped forward to meet formidable challenges with an undaunted commitment. Patient advocacy is to our nurses both a professional calling and a moral imperative. These values are the foundation of our unity. We have reported on anti-union attacks in the pages of New York Nurse throughout this year. Yet, in the face of these attacks, our members took stock, unified and fought back hard, with stunning results. What better way to counter these attacks than to organize with wins that rang out across the state and the nation. We proved that our voice cannot be ignored. Three organizing victories
One year ago, the nurses at Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel voted overwhelmingly to join our union. “We have a great group of nurses at Putnam Hospital and it’s about time we had a voice in our own future. We work hard and deserve a seat at the table where decisions are made that will affect patient care,” said Mike Chitty, RN, Behavior Health Unit. On April 14 the nurses at Albany Medical Center did the same, voting to join NYSNA, and beating back threats and coercion. “Moving forward this gives nurses a voice, a voice to improve patient care, because, bottom line, as nurs-
es we want our patients to have better care,” said Elizabeth Cahill, RN, Albany Med. With this single resounding victory, we added more than 2,000 new members to NYSNA, an organizing win recognized across the nation. ”We‘re all in the same fight...”
And more. New YorkPresbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital nurses also countered a campaign of intimidation and voted to join NYSNA on December 13. “We did it. We might have been nervous, but in the end we pulled together to win our union, not just for ourselves, but for our patients,” said Amanda Mohamed, RN, of Hudson Valley Hospital. “The truth is, we’re all in the same fight, despite what our profession is,” said Mara Neary, RN, also a new member from Albany Med. Three organizing wins in a year! How did we do it? We worked to achieve good contracts in all our hospitals, enhancing our reputation for attention to member demands where safe staffing and quality patient care are paramount. But we did not do it alone. We built solidarity with other unions and within communities from Buffalo to Staten Island— outreach critical to organizing new members as well as defending working people across the state.
Our allies joined our calls for safe, quality care and stood with us in these organizing campaigns. Our nurses, in turn, are an integral part of campaigns for equality in and fair funding for public education, a clean environment, decent housing, living wages and retirement with dignity. Another essential part of our road to victory was the work of NYSNA members to elect candidates committed to the agenda of working people. We seek candidates for office who are staunchly against union busting. “We are a union state,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo on April 15, “and we have zero tolerance for any attempts to illegally interfere in the fundamental right to join a union.” Scores of candidates echoed the Governor’s sentiment in 2018, gained our support, and many won their races. Ready for 2019
Yes, the forces against us are strong and well-funded. But we rolled over them this year. And we will do it again in 2019. “The nurses really are the union,” said Sasha Winslow, RN, Mount Sinai Medical Center, where bargaining for a new contract is underway. “NYSNA really takes what we say into consideration. They encourage us to take the reins and be more involved, because nothing will get done if you’re not involved.” We are nurses. We are NYSNA.
2,700 new members added in the last 12 months!
Albany Medical Center
New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Putnam Hospital Center
CONVENTION RALLY
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who we are and what we stand for. I’m happy that a lot of elected officials came out to support us.” “I love to be surrounded by this sea of red!” exclaimed Karines Reyes, RN, and newly elected Assemblywoman of the Bronx. NYSNA supported our sister from Montefiore in her successful bid for the Assembly, so it was a special feeling seeing her speak from the rally stage and knowing that she would soon be in Albany fighting for safe staffing, healthcare for all and the issues that matter to nurses. Newly elected Assemblywoman Karines Reyes, RN, Montefiore Medical Center
Solidarity and energy
We are the nurses, mighty, mighty nurses!
New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon showed her support for NYSNA nurses by saying, “Nursing is a profession of people who care. You’re not there for the glory; you’re there for the patients.” Nurses heard from Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, who congratulated nurse activists for standing in solidarity with our union family through many strikes and tough contract fights this past year, and for our work in getting out the vote. “The agenda of NYSNA is the agenda of the entire New York State labor movement,” he said. More than the cold day energized nurses; they were energized by the encouraging words of elected leaders and allies, and by the sense of camaraderie at the convention march and rally. Sara Artigot, RN, Bellevue Hospital, said, “This is my first convention. I really like the energy and that we have the opportunity to meet so many other nurses. It’s a great opportunity to feel like we’re all in this together—we have support. NYSNA is like a platform—to get to management, to get to politicians, to make us heard, to provide a good life for nurses and good care for our patients.”
NYSNA
Convention is all about bringing nurses together and building our collective power. It just wouldn’t be a NYSNA Convention without an inspiring rally to make our voices heard and remind everyone within earshot that we are the nurses, the mighty, mighty nurses! So it was in this spirit that nurses marched from our hotel in Times Square north to Central Park, with a powerful chorus: “We are the nurses, mighty, mighty nurses!” There were cheers of support along the route from busy New Yorkers and tourists out doing their holiday shopping. Elected officials, labor
Judith Cutchin, RN, NYSNA Board of Directors, and President, NYSNA NYC H+H/Mayorals Executive Council
and community leaders spoke from the heart about the importance of nurses to our patients, communities and the labor movement in New York State. A sea of NYSNA red
Kesha James, a night nurse at Queens Hospital, said, “I like the fact that we marched and rallied in the streets. So many people got to see us march, and we got to tell them
Kelynne Edmond, President, Haitian American Nurses Association of Greater NY
“What I love about this union is you always put people first, before profits.” Assemblywoman-elect Catalina Cruz
– NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer
Congressman-elect Max Rose
“The agenda of NYSNA is the agenda of the entire New York State labor movement.” –Mario Cilento, President, NYS AFL-CIO
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Our special guests
T Bernadine (Bunny) Engeldorf, RN, First VP, Minnesota Nurses Association
his year we were proud to invite frontline nurse leaders from around the U.S., and one from India! NYSNA’s reputation for patient advocacy and social awareness runs far and wide. NYSNA Treasurer Pat Kane, RN, hosted a lunch and NYSNA members were able to compare their experiences with others. Bunny Engeldorf, RN, First Vice President, Minnesota Nurses Association, cited a quote from Paul Wellstone, an outstanding labor advocate in the U.S. Senate lost in a plane crash in 2002: “If we don’t fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don’t really stand for them.” Lessons in solidarity
Michelle Mahon, RN, National Nursing Practice Representative, National Nurses United
Norma Amsterdam, RN, Exec. VP, 1199SEIU
From our sisters and brothers at 1199SEIU, Norma Amsterdam, RN and Executive Vice President, told a story of taking on New York University Langone Health—“a force to be reckoned with.” “At the bargaining table,” she said, “they brought a right-to-work lawyer with them from a right-to-work state. I told them, ‘You are not in a right-to-work state, you’re in New York State.”
boots on the ground and coalition partners. We were everywhere,” she said. The battle was lost, but not the war. Nurses united all over the world
NYSNA Treasurer Pat Kane, RN, Staten Island University Hospital
Cori Anne Gambini, of CWA, praised NYSNA for organizing and mobilizing. “We can’t really win until we’re all together. We’re all union. We all have common interests. We have some different opinions, but we have so much more in common. We are working together like never before.” From the Bay State, members heard from Donna Kelly-Williams, RN, President, Massachusetts Nurses Association, who recounted a grueling ballot initiative campaign for safe patient staffing. They collected 150,000 signatures, and with commitments from unions and elected officials, went up against a powerful and well-funded hospital industry. “We did have
With a chant (in both English and Hindi), “Go, NYSNA, Go NYSNA, Go!” Rince Joseph of United Nurses Association (UNA), Delhi, India, brought cheers. UNA was founded in 2011. Private hospitals in India, he explained, pay very poorly and fire workers with impunity. “Social media helped us build up over seven years. Now we are the biggest union in India,” he said. What a remarkable feat. UNA’s slogan is “Together, we are strong.” “Nurses are united all over the world!” said Joseph.
Rince Joseph, UNA, Delhi, India
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the House reject corporate money and still win. When people who usually sit out got involved in the political process, we changed it!” She supports Medicare for All, living wages for all Americans and free college tuition. “No one,” she said, “knows better why we need universal healthcare,” she said to members.
Donna Kelly-Williams, RN, President, Massachusetts Nurses Association
With these words, “Nurses are the frontline leaders in the United States of America. No one is closer to the proximity of pain,” Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took the stage.
Cori Gambini, RN, President, CWA 1168
Ocasio-Cortez’s district encompasses parts of Queens and the Bronx. “It was in the Bronx and Queens where nurses and everyday people who had never canvassed before helped our campaign win,” she said. “We can run and
After a week in Washington, D.C., “listening to lobbyists tell us what is and isn’t possible,” she spoke excitedly about being with nurses and talking about what is possible. “We know that Goldman Sachs isn’t going to get us out of this mess,” she said. “Nurses are going to get us out of this mess. Labor is going to get us out of this mess. Organizing is going to get us out of this mess. “We are only going to come out of it together.”
New York
nurse SPECIAL CONVENTION EDITION | december 2018
the official publication of the new york state nurses association
NYSNA 2018 CONVENTION
Approved Resolutions
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Convention 2018
New York Nurse december 2018
NYSNA 2018 Convention Approved Resolutions
Building NYSNA’s Power through Member Education and Organizing Whereas NYSNA’s goal is to build a powerful, member-driven, democratic union; Whereas this will require recruiting active leaders on every unit and every shift;
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efend RN autonomy and discretion in the practice D of nursing through enforceable contract standards;
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ppose any legislation that erodes RN scope of O practice.
Whereas these leaders will need to enforce existing contract standards and move their co-workers into action;
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Therefore, as NYSNA member-leaders we will:
Organizing the Unorganized
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T ake advantage of educational opportunities to develop our leadership skills, including, but not limited to, Member Leader Training, advanced workshops such as ‘Organizing a Successful POA Campaign’, and hand-on-training such as the union leave leadership program;
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L earn to do rounding and teach colleagues how to do it;
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L earn how to turn issues into escalating organizing campaigns and train colleagues how to build these campaigns as well;
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L earn best practices for serving on a Bargaining Committee or Contract Action Team;
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I dentify other potential member-leaders and recruit them to become active in NYSNA;
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Mentor those potential member-leaders;
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I ntegrate training and education into on-going organizing and campaign planning activities inside their facility.
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Creating Strong Nursing Standards and Defending Nursing Practice Whereas collective bargaining is one of the best ways to establish strong nursing standards; Whereas strong nursing standards are essential to recruitment and retention of highly-skilled RNs; Whereas many hospitals are restricting the ability of bedside nurses to apply their professional judgement; Whereas new technologies like electronic medical records software are hampering the delivery of quality care;
Whereas only 15 percent of private sector workers in New York belong to unions, compared with 67 percent of the state’s public sector workforce; Whereas union members in New York earn an average of 26 percent more than their non-union counterparts and are much more likely to have other benefits such as employer-paid healthcare coverage and a defined-benefit pension;
T ap the collective power of our membership through regionally coordinated contract negotiations, starting with private sector hospitals in New York City;
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se contract negotiations to push for essential U standards such as enforceable staffing ratios and retiree healthcare;
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ecognize that internal organizing and mobilization R are essential to building power in contract negotiations, up to and including building for a credible strike threat;
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S pread common standards across the industry, both through coordinated bargaining and collaboration across the public and private sector;
Whereas many of our pressing public health concerns—from the economic and social determinants of health to the negative impact of climate change— are not just local, or even statewide, in scope; Whereas many of NYSNA’s campaigns address overlapping, interconnected issues; Whereas NYSNA members recognize that unions are stronger when we build alliances with each other and develop allies in our communities, and that solidarity does not stop at the state border; Therefore, as NYSNA member-leaders we will work with staff and the Board to: l
evelop educational materials that are accessible to D nurses and the community that explain the interconnections between our key campaigns, such as Medicare for All, Safe Staffing, and Addressing Climate Change;
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ork with other unions to anchor a broad, W democracy and fairness movement in New York;
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E xpand NYSNA’s efforts to build alliances and promote solidarity beyond New York State, including internationally;
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E xtend our organizing campaigns, where appropriate, to regional, national and international arenas.
Whereas many key hospitals and healthcare systems across the state are not yet unionized, and many of our employers are trying to expand the number of non-union RNs working in NYSNA facilities; Whereas lower standards for non-union nurses make it harder to raise standards for current NYSNA members; Whereas NYSNA has successfully organized several residual units of non-union RNs working in existing NYSNA facilities, such as case managers, CRNAs, and nurse practitioners over the past few years; Whereas last spring NYSNA had its biggest organizing victory in decades, bringing 2,400 nurses into the union, despite intense employer opposition; Therefore, as NSYNA leaders we will: l
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Therefore as NYSNA leaders we will: l
Building Solidarity, Building a Movement
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ontinue building NYSNA’s new organizing C program, bringing more RNs into NYSNA and under a union contract, targeting key employers and key regions of the state; se our leverage at the bargaining table to secure U organizing rights and employer neutrality for any non-union RN units or newly created positions in our existing facilities, or when our employers acquire non-union hospitals; I nvolve current NYSNA members in our organizing campaigns, as short-term volunteer organizers and, where possible, using union leave provisions in our current contracts to extend their participation and deepen their skills; E nsure newly organized members are fully supported as they negotiate their first contract, work to establish high, common contract standards across the state, and push newly organized employers to participate in the NYSNA pension and benefit funds; P romote legislation to protect, preserve, and expand worker rights at the local, state, and national level.
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
On the Expansion of the Union Leave Provision Whereas, the union leave pilot educational program currently underway at several facilities, and prior experiences of LBU members who have engaged in this process, have shown it to be successful in developing individual rank and file members’ expertise and credibility as union leaders, and Whereas, developing such abilities and commitment among rank-and-file leaders, delegates and executive committee members is the critical element that allows NYSNA to build union power and promote member growth and development, and Whereas members who participate in the union leave program continue in their leadership roles long after the period of time such a leave ends, Therefore, be it resolved, that NYSNA continue and expand the union leave educational program, and Be it further resolved that NYSNA evaluate the current pilot, making identified adjustments, and Be it finally resolved that NYSNA develop a process such that participants remain involved utilizing follow up processes that continue supporting their own individual development as leaders as well as their expanded role in mentoring new leaders. Submitted: Ana Reyes, Montefiore Medical Center– Weiler Division Second: Renee Tucker, Montefiore Medical Center– Moses Division
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NYSNA Political and Policy Platform – 2018-2019
C. Provide fair terms and conditions of employment to all nurses, health care workers, and other workers
1. Protecting Patients and Maintaining the Quality of Health Care in New York and Nationally
D. Provide all nurses, health care workers and other workers with high quality health care benefits
A. Pass legislation to require minimum nurseto-patient staffing ratios in all patient care settings B. Maintain professional and patient care standards and patient safety regulations, including the provision of requisite technology and equipment C. Fight against de-skilling, barriers to the scope of practice and erosion of standards of professional nursing practice D. Oppose the expansion of for-profit health care and stand against the treatment of patients and people in need of medical care as commodities or means for profit - patients must take precedence over profits E. Maintain proper and adequate financial support for rural, urban and community safetynet hospitals F. Target funding for indigent and low-income patient care to facilities that is proportionate to the actual amount of such care provided by each institution G. Maintain and expand the role of the public hospital and health care system 2. Access to High Quality Medical Care and Treatment is a Human Right - NYSNA Supports Universal Access to Health Care Regardless of Socio-Economic Standing or Ability to Pay
A. Implement a “Medicare for All” health care system to provide universal access to health care for all B. Eliminate barriers and maintain equality of access to care on the basis of need, regardless of socio-economic status, ability to pay or immigration status C. Address social determinants of health as a core element of providing health care to our patients and communities D. No For-profit corporate or investor control or operation of hospitals and other health care providers E. Moratorium on the closure of hospitals and other vital health care services F. Maintain strong regulation of the market activity and business practices of all health care providers G. No erosion or elimination of existing Certificate of Need (CON) regulations H. Expand Certificate of Need (CON) regulations applicable to licensed primary care facilities to cover unregulated physician practices and other facilities that currently operate with minimal oversight and control 3. Protect the Rights, Working Conditions and Economic Security of Nurses, Health Care Providers and all Working People
A. Maintain and improve the ability of nurses and other health workers to properly exercise their professional duties to patients as defined by their scope of practice B. Provide a safe working environment for nurses, health care workers, and patients
E. Provide all nurses, health care workers and other workers with economic security in retirement or in the event of disability or inability to continue working F. Recognize and expand the right of all nurses, health care workers and other workers to organize and engage in collective activity, to effectively engage in collective bargaining, and reject all efforts to restrict or constrain the exercise of workers’ rights, including socalled “right to work” laws, restrictions of the rights to free speech, to strike and to engage in other public action, and attacks on wages, health care benefits and pension rights 4. Ensuring Democratic Input and Control of the Allocation of Health Care Resources In Our Communities
A. Support the establishment of democratic regional health planning councils or other bodies composed of elected or representative members to provide democratic input in and real power to determine the allocation of health resources in their communities B. Expand the role of the public and of direct care providers in the Certificate of Need regulatory process at the State and local level C. Increase the transparency of the CON and other regulatory processes to ensure that the public is informed and has the ability to effectively monitor and participate in the process D. Provide for a rational and democratic planning process to oversee and prevent disruptive and destructive market practices that result in the misallocation of medical care resources on the basis of monetized demand rather than unmet health care needs 5. Actively Address Social Determinants of Health and their Impact on Health Outcomes of Patients and Communities
A. Engage in efforts to eliminate environmental and social factors that contribute to racial and class disparities in the health, safety and wellbeing of local communities and populations, including income inequality and access to equal educational opportunity B. Mitigate climate change and address its contribution to causing superstorms and natural disasters, the jeopardizing the quality and availability of food supplies, and otherwise negatively affecting the health and well-being of our communities C. Reduce environmental pollution and contamination of our air, water, soil and food D. Ensure the availability of safe housing for patients in need and protect the affordability and quality of the housing stock in our community E. Ensure that all patients and members of our communities are food secure and have access to healthy foods and proper nutrition F. Address the incidence and causes of violence in our communities, schools, homes and health care facilities
G. Address the growing mental health crisis and improve the availability of services to identify impacted individuals and provide necessary support 6. Participate in Initiatives and Support Legislation that Promotes Campaign Finance Reform to
Level the Playing Field for Labor and CommunityBased Candidates Submitted: NYSNA Council on Legislation and Board of Directors
Winning Safe Staffing at the Bargaining Table and in Albany Whereas nurses have both a moral and legal imperative to advocate for their patients and for conditions supportive of quality patient care; Whereas quality patient care depends on safe staffing; Whereas peer-reviewed research and the personal experience of NYSNA members demonstrate the need to maintain adequate nurse-to-patient ratios in order to address patient acuity and provide topnotch care; Whereas safe nurse-to-patient ratios result in both reduced mortality and shorter hospital stays; Whereas California’s nurse-to-patient ratio law, in effect since 2004, has both saved patient lives and reduced hospital budgets; Whereas safe staffing levels also keep experienced RNs on the job, which benefits patients and improves the mentoring process for new nurses; Therefore, as NYSNA member-leaders we will: l
ngage our colleagues, union allies, and the public E to support the passage of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act in 2019;
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ork with the Executive and Legislative branches W to establish safe nurse and caregiver-to-patient limits in state regulation and in law;
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eview current legislative proposals and set our R union’s benchmark for safe staffing through NYSNA’s Council on Legislation;
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ropose safe staffing language and enforceable P staffing grids in every contract negotiation in 2019;
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ontinue to publicize current data from peerC reviewed studies in support of safe staffing outcomes;
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tilize POAs and strategic POA campaigns to U demonstrate the severity of understaffing in our facilities, and to address immediate staffing issues;
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ontinue to push for safe staffing standards in C Professional Practice, Nursing Practice and labormanagement meetings.
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Educating and Mobilizing Nurses for “Medicare for All” Whereas NYSNA members are committed to healthcare for all and support efforts to achieve comprehensive, affordable, high quality, healthcare system for every community in New York state; Whereas the U.S. spends twice as much per capita on healthcare as other wealthy nations; Whereas Continued on page 10
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Convention approved resolutions Continued from page 9
single payer systems like Medicare are proven to be far more equitable and cost effective than our current patchwork of public and private insurance programs; Whereas “Medicare for All” has gained unprecedented attention in 2018, with a growing number of Congressional leaders voicing their support and many political candidates incorporating “Medicare for All” as a key part of their campaign platform; Whereas even conservative think tanks like the RAND Corporation find that a “Medicare for All” system would reduce overall healthcare spending compared with the status quo, and New York State would be spending at least $23 billion less on administration and $9 billion more on health care services under a single-payer plan; Whereas passing “Medicare for All’ legislation in New York would have a tremendous positive impact on public health in the state and pave the way for federal legislation; Whereas NYSNA members, in partnership with our allies, have built unprecedented public support for “Medicare for All” in the New York, and in the state legislature. The New York Health Act has passed the Assembly each year for the past four years, with support nearing a majority in the State Senate; Whereas the 2018 election results open up new opportunities to advance the New York Health Act in the State Senate; And, Whereas this groundswell of support has led corporate interests who oppose the New York Health Act to launch a misinformation called “Realities of Single Payer;” Therefore, as NYSNA leaders we will: l
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apitalize on the attention generated by “Medicare C for All” legislation and make the New York Health Act a top legislative priority in 2019, including an expanded push to pass the bill in the State Senate;
Strengthening New York’s Public Healthcare System Whereas New York’s public healthcare system is critical to the health and safety of vast numbers of state residents; Whereas New York City Health and Hospitals system provides millions of patient visits per year, accounting for 20 percent of inpatient discharges city-wide, with a key role in care for the uninsured, for communities of color and for inpatient services to people with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders; Whereas New York City Health and Hospitals also undergirds the financial success of private hospitals in New York City; Whereas Westchester Medical Center serves a 5,000-square-mile area where 3.6 million people reside, giving advanced level of care to tens of thousands of newborns, infants, children and adults annually; Whereas Erie County Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center, serves patients from the local urban area as well as from all eight counties of Western New York; Whereas the NYSNA nurses in county health departments, public schools and these three public systems proudly serve as a safety net network that cares for millions of New Yorkers, a system that is the most comprehensive public system in the nation; Whereas public sector NYSNA nurses advocate in close cooperation with other public health unions, patients and organizations on a range of public health issues; Therefore, as NYSNA member-leaders we will: l
dvocate to maintain and extend the role of public A hospitals and the public healthcare system in New York;
Whereas not-for-profit hospitals routinely create forprofit subsidiaries, operate these for-profit entities on tax-exempt property, and engage in profit-sharing with their physicians, all to the detriment of quality patient care for all; Whereas corporate giants such as Amazon are entering the healthcare sector, spurring consolidation in areas like pharmacy benefit management, which boost profits at the expense patient care; Whereas mergers and acquisitions are promoted as ways to achieve greater efficiency and cost savings, but as the AARP reports “the most common consequence for patients is higher prices for care.” Whereas research has demonstrated that in cases where only a few hospitals dominate the market, patient costs skyrocketed; Whereas some of the largest health systems in the state have tapped ruthless corporate executives to serve on their Boards of Directors, such as energy magnate and right-to-work advocate David Koch, who serves as a Trustee at New York Presbyterian; Therefore, as NYSNA leaders we will:
P romote equality of access to public hospitals, for example, by expanding New York Health and Hospitals to operate in all five boroughs;
ppose any effort to weaken or circumvent the O Certificate of Need review process, and defend against targeted closures of “unprofitable” areas such as detox and psychiatric services;
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E ducate our colleagues on the critical importance of the public system overall, and the specific importance of the care we provide in local communities;
E xpand community oversight and control over changes to care delivery, and give community stakeholders a voice;
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P ress for regulatory oversight of new provider types, such as primary care offices, outpatient clinics, and free-standing Emergency Departments;
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P romote experiments designed to reduce healthcare disparities, such as democratic control over the allocation of healthcare funding, allocation of healthcare resources on the basis of need, and additional controls over pricing and reimbursement rates;
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evelop educational materials that are accessible D to nurses and the community that highlight the dangers of for-profit healthcare, the corrosive effects of hospital consolidation, and the threat posed to our patients and our practice by “lean” management methods;
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T rain members to speak publicly about the harmful effects of corporate healthcare on our patients and our profession.
T rain members to speak publicly about the benefits of a “Medicare for All” system and counter misinformation about the New York Health Act;
S trengthen the public health infrastructure required to address natural disasters, epidemics, and other large-scale public health needs;
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P ressure elected officials at all levels to publicly support “Medicare for All” and endorse the New York Health Act;
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P ush our employers to publicly support the New York Health Act through contract negotiations, highlighting the fact that skyrocketing healthcare costs make it harder to fund wage increases or other economic improvements;
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onnect with the communities we serve, to C improve our understanding of the public’s health and the social and economic conditions facing our patients;
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F oster labor and community alliances to fight service cuts, privatization of public services, and hospital closings.
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Whereas hospitals across the state are adopting “lean” management methods that lead to routine shortages of staff and supplies, and encourage nursing functions to be performed by non-nursing personnel;
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P articipate in national cross-union efforts to promote “Medicare for All,” such as Labor for Single Payer, and prioritize dispelling misconceptions and addressing legitimate concerns among existing unions and union members.
Whereas corporate healthcare leads to excessive administrative overhead and exorbitant executive salaries, where millions are siphoned away from patient care to recruit “top talent”;
ppose any effort to introduce for-profit O healthcare institutions in New York State, and curtail the for-profit activities of existing facilities in the state;
ork on the city, state, and federal level to expand W funding until its commensurate with the demands on the public system;
P artner with allies to expose the vested interests of “Medicare for All” opponents, including private health insurance and pharmaceutical corporations who profit from the status quo;
Whereas hospitals are rapidly consolidating and merging, with systems like Montefiore, Mt. Sinai, New York Presbyterian, and Northwell Health expanding upstate, and the University of Vermont Health Network and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center crossing state lines into New York;
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evelop educational materials that are accessible D to nurses and the community to emphasize the benefits of a “Medicare for All” system and explain how the New York Health Act would work;
comprehensive, affordable, high quality care for patients throughout the state;
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Fighting Corporate Control of Healthcare and Putting Patients Over Profits Whereas NYSNA members are committed to healthcare for all and support efforts to achieve
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
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Building a Strong NYSNA with Voluntary Membership Whereas corporate interests have spent decades working to undermine the strength of unions, in the workplace, in the legislature, and in the courts; Whereas conservative think tanks like the National Right to Work Foundation and the MacKinac Center have poured millions of dollars into legal cases attacking collective bargaining rights; Whereas the current administration has established a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, willing to overturn any number of well-established legal precedents; Whereas the recent Supreme Court decision, Janus vs. AFSCME, is just one of many legal challenges unions will face in the near future; Whereas Congress is currently considering national ‘Right-to-Work’ legislation that would strip union security provisions out of all NYSNA contracts; Therefore as NYSNA Leaders we will: l
aintain our membership by ensuring NYSNA is an M active, visible, and democratic union;
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reate a culture where members know the union C “has your back,” and that they can get involved at any time, at whatever level they can manage;
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ecruit a leader on every unit and every shift in our R facilities; sing our comprehensive member leader training U program, teach newly active members how to bring their co-workers together to tackle the issues members care about, at work and beyond; efend our contract standards and neutralize D management’s divide and conquer strategy by aggressively representing non-members as well as members;
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eview membership in every facility monthly and R encourage non-members to join;
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E nsure all NYSNA contracts provide access to new hires during the orientation process;
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T each delegates and other unit leaders the best ways to promote the benefits of union membership and strength through unity to nonmembers.
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
How to Protect Our Union from Janus Whereas, the Supreme Court ruling on Janus disallows the union from collecting “fair share“ fees from workers in the public sector who choose not to be union members; and Whereas, eroding NYSNA funding will effectively have the potential to weaken our union power; Therefore, be it resolved that a) NYSNA will continue to educate every rank and file member on the benefits of unionizing
All Public Sector Nurses, Along with Other Public Sector Employees, Should Have the Legal Right to Strike
Whereas New Yorkers have witnessed a sharp rise in violence and threats of violence directed at historically marginalized communities in recent years;
Background on the resolution:
Whereas the inflammatory rhetoric and punitive policies coming out of Washington have contributed to this climate of fear;
The Public Employees Fair Employment Act (more commonly known as the Taylor Law), Article 14 of the New York State Civil Service Law establishes the framework for labor relations for New York State Public Employees, defining the rights and limitations of unions operating within the public sector. §210 of the Taylor Law is a prohibition on strikes. It also assesses severe financial penalties, fines, and has led the incarceration of union leaders. This resolution makes it a clear priority for NYSNA to fight for the repeal of §210 of the Taylor Law, the prohibition on strikes. Whereas, NYSNA’s membership includes more than 10,000 public sector nurses
Whereas the integrity of our healthcare system requires that patients feel absolutely confident they can seek out medical care and assistance without risk of discrimination, religious or racially-motivated violence, or detention or deportation by immigration and law enforcement authorities; Whereas the labor movement has always acted on the principle that “an injury to one is an injury to all,” and been a haven for those promoting social justice; Therefore as NYSNA leaders we will: l
ctively protect the rights and safety of every A member of our union and every patient under our care, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, or immigration status;
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ork to address the social, emotional, and mental W health needs of our patients, in the face of an escalating climate of fear;
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nsure that our facilities provide a welcoming E environment for all patients, so that no member of our community is afraid to seek medical care;
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tand up for, support, and defend the most S vulnerable among us, including those who have become victims of hate in recent years;
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ppose policies that discriminate against members O of our community, or needlessly separate children from their families;
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romote diversity and inclusion inside our union P and within our facilities.
Whereas, NYSNA is committed to protecting and improving the working conditions and economic security of all nurses and all working people Whereas, the right to strike is a powerful tool for improving the healing conditions of patients. Whereas, historically, strikes and other workplace actions led to the recognition of basic rights such as collective bargaining, the end to child labor, limits to the working day, occupational safety, ending dictatorships, and the establishment of social security and unemployment. Whereas, in Spring 2018, teachers’ strikes in public schools across West Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, and elsewhere successfully gained increased wages and healthcare benefits, and in some cases led to the expansion of funding for public education. Whereas, historically, nurses have successfully used strikes and the threat of strikes to gain substantial wins in numerous campaigns. Whereas, the State of New York has outlawed all public sector workers, including nurses, from utilizing this valuable tool through the passage of the Taylor Law in 1967. Therefore, be it resolved that NYSNA will fight for public sector nurses to gain the legal right to strike by making the repeal of Section 210 a legislative priority, releasing a public position statement, and work with other unions and organizations to this end. Also, be it resolved that NYSNA will conduct membership education on the right to strike in the United States, how it was won, its history as a fundamental democratic right, the role it has played in building the labor movement, as well as the history of the Taylor Law in New York State. Also, be it resolved that we will work with legislators and other public sector unions to draft legislation that provides a right to strike without giving up any of our existing legal protections.
b) NYSNA will continue an educational card signing campaign
Submitted: NYC H+H Executive Council
c) NYSNA will work with other unions, to ensure the health of the labor movement
Protecting All Our Patients
Submitted: Xenia Greene, Montefiore Medical Center– Moses Division Seconded: Collette Dobbins, Montefiore Medical Center–Moses Division
Whereas NYSNA members in dozens of facilities report increased levels of fear, anxiety, and insecurity among patients, co-workers, and family members;
Whereas nurses have an ethical responsibility to protect and serve all our patients, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, or immigration status;
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Promoting Racial and Economic Justice by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Whereas RNs are aware that some neighborhoods have an abundance of healthcare facilities and medical services while others are medically underserved; Whereas RNs also understand that economic and social conditions such as low incomes, lack of insurance, homelessness, food insecurity, and discrimination can have a profound effect on a patient’s health; Whereas addressing these social determinants of health – defined as the structural conditions in which people are born, live, grow, work and age – form an integral part of patient advocacy; Whereas historically, poor communities and communities of color have faced greater gaps in terms of social determinants of health, a legacy of segregation and racial discrimination that persists today; Whereas we have seen an alarming rise in hate crimes, gun violence, and racially-motivated attacks, all of which are threats to public health; Continued on page 12
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Convention approved resolutions Continued from page 11
Whereas actively promoting racial and economic justice is the only way to reverse these social inequalities and eliminate the hatred, bigotry and exploitation that created them;
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Therefore as NYSNA member leaders we will: l
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P romote access to quality care across New York state, and oppose the closing of hospitals or elimination of other critical healthcare services in underserved communities; evelop educational materials that are accessible D to nurses and the community that explain the links between social and economic conditions and patient outcomes; evelop accessible educational materials addressing D the unique health care needs of different social groups in our care, including women, people of color, and LGBTQIANB patients;
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P romote policies that combat racial discrimination, economic inequality, and social exclusion, as well as other factors contributing to disparate health outcomes of low-income patients, people of color, and immigrants;
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S upport community campaigns to combat racism, hate, religious intolerance, and all forms of violence.
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Addressing the Public Health Effects of Climate Change and Environmental Destruction Whereas the overwhelming majority of the world’s scientists agree that climate change, caused by human activity, poses an immediate and long-term threat to our planet, our communities, our economic security; Whereas the recently-released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that current trends would lead to food shortages, wildfires, droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events “with no documented historic precedent” within the next 20 years, unless major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions happen within the next decade; Whereas working-class communities are hit hardest by catastrophic events such as Hurricane Sandy, and disproportionally suffer from corporations profiting off of environmental degradation such as polluted air, contaminated water supplies, and tainted soil; Whereas nurses and other healthcare workers are already grappling with the public health effects of climate change, from the increasing incidence of asthma to the spread of infections like Lyme disease and West Nile virus. Whereas nurses and other healthcare workers are also called to respond to disasters around the world with increasing frequency; Therefore, as NYSNA leaders we will: l
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evelop educational materials that are accessible D to nurses and the community to explain the public health risks of climate change and what we can do to reduce these risks; T rain members to speak publicly about the impact of climate change on our communities and the public’s health;
ontinue NYSNA’s support for the New York C Recovery Network (NYRN) and increase the number of nurses participating in medical missions through NYRN; P ress employers to provide unpaid short-term release time for nurses who volunteer for medical missions, and make this a contract demand in upcoming negotiations;
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S upport NYSNA members working on local climate-related issues, and prioritize union participation in local climate-related coalitions;
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P romote the demand for a “just transition” and bring together labor union and community organizations who share common desire for good jobs that are environmentally sustainable;
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S upport environmental justice, and the reparations claims made by communities that have been the victim of corporate polluters.
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P articipate in national and international union efforts to address the broader issues of climate change, including Trade Unions for Energy Democracy and the Labor Network for Sustainability.
Submitted: NYSNA Board of Directors
Providing Mental Health Support for Nurses Whereas nurses are experiencing an increased amount of workplace stress, and at higher rates than most other professions; and Whereas, an alarming amount of nurses report both physical and mental abuse on the job; and Whereas, nurses may not choose to seek help from an employer-sponsored Employee Assistance Program due to fear of repercussions; Therefore, be it resolved that NYSNA will explore the possibility of creating a 24-hour hotline for nurses to use if they are feeling overwhelmed, and Be it further resolved, that NYSNA will develop a system capable of tracking physical and mental assaults on nurses, and Be it finally resolved that NYSNA will explore the possibility of creating, employing or sponsoring a professionally trained mental health group that our members can contact in order to receive assistance without fear of employer retaliation. Submitted: Xenia Greene, Montefiore Medical Center– Moses Division Seconded: Collette Dobbins, Montefiore Medical Center–Moses Division
Improving the Health and Safety of Nurses Whereas statistics show hospitals are one of the most hazardous places to work; and Whereas injury and illness rates in hospitals remain nearly double the rate for private industry’s as a whole; and Whereas workers in hospitals have risks uncommon in other industries; Therefore, be it resolved that NYSNA will continue to pressure institutions to follow regulatory practices regarding safe patient handling
Be it further resolved that NYSNA will pursue demands in contract bargaining to insist that safe patient handling committees be empowered to purchase equipment necessary to support this program. Be it finally resolved that NYSNA will convene on how to address the acts of violence against nurses. Submitted: Xenia Greene, Montefiore Medical Center– Moses Division Seconded: Collette Dobbins, Montefiore Medical Center–Moses Division
NYSNA can Help Win the Battle Against Sickle Cell Disease Whereas, Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) continues to impact the lives of thousands of New Yorkers every year. But because it primarily effects AfricanAmericans, it has been neglected as a medical priority in our healthcare systems. Whereas, New York State has adopted a successful screening and tracking system for children born with SCD, assigning them to SCD center, and successfully monitoring their progress. But when they turn 18, there this program ends and they lose their medical home. Consequently, mortality and morbidity for SCD patients skyrockets after they turn 18 years old. Whereas, a small group of NYSNA nurses and NYC H+H physicians have successfully advocated for NYC H+H to tackle this problem, as the single largest provider of care to SCD patients in the country. NYC H+H had recently agreed to tracking systems and protocols for every SCD patient that is in their care. Whereas, unfortunately, this is not enough. We need to make sure that NYC H+H implements this program fully throughout the system within in the next year. Moreover, the NYS DOH needs to make similar programs mandatory for private sector hospitals so that all SCD patients will be tracked and monitored statewide, as they are for the pediatric population. Whereas, if this is implemented, the current disparity in how adults with SCD are treated can be ended in a few short years, extending the quality and quantity of life for this underserved population. Therefore, be it resolved, that NYSNA will continue to support the implementation of these programs in NYC H+H through strong advocacy in each institution, citywide Nurse Practice Council meetings, and direct discussions with central office senior H+H leadership. Be it further resolved, that NYSNA include implementing this program statewide among our political priorities, which includes, but not limited to, advocating for these changes with the Governor’s office, the NYS Department of Health, and any other laws, institutions, and regulations that may be necessary. Submitted: NYC H+H Executive Council
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Standing strong, standing together
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or New York City nurses, the 2018 NYSNA Convention gave them the opportunity to share experiences and challenges with friends, advocates and fellow members from all around the state. More than a thousand NYSNA members from across New York came together in solidarity and celebration for the first-ever elected delegated convention, held in Midtown Manhattan. The twoday event offered members an occasion to renew bonds, discuss shared issues and celebrate victories through interactive group workshops and conversations.
(L-R) NYSNA Board Members Yasmine Beausejour, RN, and Nancy Hagans, RN
Strength in numbers
“I’m so excited to be at the convention to meet other nurses and see how we use our strength in numbers to make change,” said Delores Steele, RN and delegate from New York-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Medical Center. “As a union member, the most important thing I do is talk to other nurses to find out where they are at. What are your issues? How are you fighting for the care you want to provide in your unit? I learn so much talking to my colleagues.” This year’s convention theme was “Delivering the Healthcare New Yorkers Deserve,” and NYSNA members from across the state definitely delivered on bringing their passion and commitment to improving our healthcare system into New York City. When NYSNA nurses gather, one theme transcends: safe staffing saves lives. Nurses shared their
Queens Hospital members at the convention
(L-R) Kesha James, RN, and Janet Lewis, RN,
own and other caregivers’ experiences with staffing levels, including the need for NYSNA members statewide to continue pushing their staffing demands. “Our biggest challenge is short staffing,” said Regine Remy, RN and delegate from Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center. “The nurses are overworked, and it results in high turnover. It’s truly a crisis, for nurses and patients.” NYSNA is family
Inside the expansive ballroom, delegates voted on resolutions that will shape the priorities and programs of the union over the next year. With this delegated convention, NYSNA takes an important step forward on its path to enhance its democratic structure—one that
encourages participation so nurses can learn and share information and make their voices resonate even louder in their facilities (see pp. 7-10 for 2018 Resolutions). “We’re here to support one another. NYSNA is family. It’s great to have a support system because even though we’re from different hospitals, we wouldn’t have met if it weren’t for these conventions,” said Kesha James, RN, NYC H+H Queens Hospital. Janet Lewis, RN, also of Queens Hospital, echoed these sentiments. “We know that we’re not alone. We’re fighting for many of the same things—patient care and safe staffing. That’s what NYSNA does for us.” “Coming to the convention, spirits are high. It feels like reunion!” said Amabelle Omay, RN, Mount Sinai Hospital, a first-time convention attendee and delegate.
Two workshops were highly relevant to private and public members working in Metro NYC: Building Power Through MultiFacility Bargaining: A Nurse‘s Obligation and Right, and Public Sector Nurses Unions and Patient Outcomes: Preserving a Nurse’s Right and Obligation to Advocate for Patients and the Profession in a Climate of Diminishing Collective Advocacy Legal Rights. In each, NYSNA Board Members shared the podium with members and experts to strategize on private and public campaigns, respectively. Contract campaigns in both sectors are front and center on NYSNA’s agenda.
Ready for next year
NYSNA Board Member Nancy Hagans, RN, Maimonides Medical Center, shared these words: “The convention has always been wonderful, but this year it’s different. People are so excited to have the opportunity as delegates to be more involved.” From reducing workplace violence to the war on pensions, in dozens of workshops throughout the weekend (see sidebar), members learned tactics for making positive changes for their patients and profession, in their facilities and in their communities. If anything, the convention showed how ready NYSNA nurses are for 2019.
Woodhull Hospital (L-R): Phyllis HolderFrancisco, RN, Ms. Bola, retired RN, Jennifer Cook-Medina, RN, Pheobe Valenton, RN, Mary Aikhuele, RN
Mount Sinai, bottom row (L-R): Timothy Munier, RN, Robin Krinsky, RN and NYSNA Board Member, Edward Levine, RN, top row (L-R): Lori Crump,RN, Amabelle Omay, RN, and Sasha Winslow, RN
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NYC H+H RNs at convention
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ew York City’s public sector was well represented at the 2018 NYSNA Convention. Along with longtime leaders and newly elected delegates, rankand-file H+H/Mayorals members turned out on their day off to participate with their fellow nurses across the state. Sarah Dowd, RN, was attending as a delegate representing Harlem Hospital. She said, “I’m excited to take back the enthusiasm and energy of the convention to reinvigorate the fights we’re involved in, whether it’s on our units or for a better contract, or for safe staffing. Sometimes we get burned out on these fights, so it’s nice to be with other nurses who are also fighting for the same things.”
First-time attendees
Bellevue nurses Sara Artigot, RN, and Steve Trust, RN
“This is my first time as a convention delegate, and it’s a great experience. I’m hoping to bring some answers back to my hospital. The nurses want updates on the greater workings of our union. We are usually so zeroed in on patient care, it’s good to take a step back and look at the big picture. NYSNA means solidarity to me. It’s all about the nurses coming together—for the nurses.” –Steve Trust, RN
Lincoln Hospital nurses (L-R) Nichelle Davis, Sonia Lawrence, Vivianne Brown, Regine Remy, Lorraine Pierre, Eva Calo
Longtime Lincoln Hospital ER nurse Regine Remy, RN, attended convention for the first time, representing her facility as a delegate. She explained her role by saying, “I am here to gain knowledge by learning and seeing what my colleagues at other hospitals are doing. I will bring what I learn back to Lincoln Hospital and be a voice for those who could not attend this year.” Public sector nurses were invigorated by the rally at Central Park, where several elected officials spoke in support of nurses and safe staffing. Janet Lewis, RN, a night nurse at Queens Hospital, attended convention on her own time. She said, “It’s important that we are in conversation with politicians. I want to let my colleagues know that these elected officials are listening. They are supporting safe staffing.”
Harlem Hospital and Bellevue Hospital nurses warm up together
Bellevue RNs Steve Trust, RN, and Sara Artigot, RN, also attended the rally. “This is my first time as a convention delegate, and it’s a great experience,” said Trust. “It’s really educational, with all the changes going on in healthcare. I’m hoping to bring some answers back to my hospital. The nurses want updates on the greater workings of our union. We are usually so zeroed in on patient care, it’s good to take a step back and look at the big picture. NYSNA means solidarity to me. It’s all about the nurses coming together—for the nurses.” Revitalized
Jacobi night nurse Sarita Jones, RN, also was there on her own time, bringing along some of her colleagues. She said, “At convention, you can’t help but get a feeling of support and love, and you’ll take it back to the floor, which is what I try to do each time I come out here. I get revitalized to get back out there and fight. Never give up!”
Public sector nurses are counting on being revitalized and united as they enter negotiations with NYC Health + Hospitals/Mayorals this spring. Already, nurses are gearing up—they elected a bargaining committee, circulated a bargaining survey, and are signing up for the Contract Action Team (CAT). The next big bargaining conference is taking place on Saturday, January 5 at NYSNA headquarters. All H+H/Mayorals nurses are invited to participate and get more involved. As frontline leaders, nurses know that improving our working conditions also improves patient care conditions. As H+H/Mayorals nurses work through a new contract to improve staffing, retention and other common issues, they will also keep in mind the convention theme, Delivering the Healthcare New Yorkers Deserve, and know that they have the support and solidarity of 42,000 NYSNA-strong nurses behind them!
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“Imagine 100 people in cots, with their animals by their side, and it is eerily quiet,” she said. “I was surprised, but I soon realized that everyone was in shock. Home is so integral to who you are. You have lost your community, your belongings, your privacy—and you fear for the future. As nurses, we worked hard to make sure evacuees had their medications, but, honestly, their greatest need was for emotional support.” Growth and determination NYSNA First VP Anthony Ciampa, RN, conducting an interview
Delivering healthcare Continued from page 3
sector all over metro New York. Over a spirited dinner, guest speakers voiced their gratitude to the nurses of NYSNA and their commitment. NYSNA First Vice President Anthony Ciampa, RN, New YorkPresbyterian Medical Center, moderated the dinner program. He welcomed Dr. Oxiris Barbot, Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Her words expressed profound gratitude. “Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare and public health systems,” said Dr. Barbot. “The health of New Yorkers depends on your expertise—your clinical skills, your kindness, your care, and we thank you for it.”
State Assemblywoman Latrice Walker of Brooklyn offered her solidarity: “When it comes to standing up for patient care, nurses are always on the front lines. I’m proud to be in the legislature, demanding justice on their behalf.” Healthcare is a right
There is a strong bond between NYSNA members that is founded on a belief that healthcare is a right, not a privilege, a sentiment that pervaded this year’s convention. Via Skype from California, Mary-Jane Perry, RN and member, California Nurses Association and Registered Nurse Response Network, told of her dramatic experience as a volunteer in Paradise, California, during the fires that ravaged the town and surroundings in November.
It was inside the expansive ballroom that delegates voted on resolutions—submitted by elected Board leaders and by other delegates—that will shape the priorities and programs of the union over the next year (see pp. 7-12). With this delegated convention, NYSNA now takes a path to operate based on a more democratic structure—one that encourages participation so nurses can learn and share information and make their voices heard louder than ever. We celebrated that in the last 12 months, NYSNA organized new members from three hospitals: Putnam Hospital Center, Albany Medical Center and Hudson Valley Hospital (see p. 4). Welcome, new NYSNA nurses! It is in this spirit of growth in our ranks and a determination to deliver the Healthcare New Yorkers Deserve that NYSNA drew this year to an end. Reinvigorated by our powerful convention, NYSNA members will persevere in 2019. There is no doubt.
Mary-Jane Perry, RN, spoke via Skype from California
NYSNA Board Members (L-R) Nancy Hagans, RN, Seth Dressekie, RN and Marva Wade, RN
Nurses participate in 1 of the 25 workshops at the convention.
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131 West 33rd Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10001 6 NYC
INSIDE
Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (center) stands tall with NYSNA members, p. 6.
Non-Profit US Postage Paid NYSNA