Four NYC Safety-Net Hospitals Reach Tentative Agreements as 45 Unions Sign NYSNA Solidarity Letter

NYSNA nurses at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, One Brooklyn Health Interfaith Medical Center and One Brooklyn Health Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center reached tentative agreements on a fair contract late Wednesday night with the help of a mediator. Nurses at these four safety-net hospitals are the first to reach tentative contract agreements among the 12 NYC private sector hospitals where they are currently bargaining.  NYSNA members at these hospitals will now vote on whether to ratify the new contracts.  

Nurses at three additional safety-net hospitals, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Richmond University Medical Center, and The Brooklyn Hospital Center, also rescinded their strike notices earlier this week after management agreed to fully fund healthcare benefits for nurses, maintain pension benefits with no cuts, and improve safe staffing.  

Negotiations at other NYC private sector hospitals, including BronxCare, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian continue this week. Unless tentative contract agreements are reached, nearly 16,000 nurses will strike on Jan. 12, in the largest nurse strike in New York City history.

On the same day that nurses announced tentative agreements at four safety-net hospitals, 45 labor unions, representing more than 2.5 million workers, released a letter calling on the remaining hospitals to settle fair contracts ahead of the Jan. 12 strike deadline.  

“Unions are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with nurses on the picket lines if a strike becomes necessary,” reads the letter. “It’s time for hospital administrators to listen to your nurses and commit to fair contracts for our communities and working people without further delay.” Read more here, and please be ready to stand with nurses on Monday morning if a strike happens!