NYP-Gracie Square Nurses Picket to Demand Safe Staffing and Protections From Workplace Violence

New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) members at NewYork-Presbyterian Gracie Square Hospital, one of New York City’s few hospitals dedicated to psychiatric care, held an informational picket Thursday, calling on hospital management to agree to a fair contract that addresses chronic understaffing and strengthens protections from workplace violence. Gracie Square is part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Health System.

Nurses picketed outside the Upper East Side hospital throughout the day and held a morning press conference to draw attention to conditions they say are putting both nurses and patients at risk, including routine understaffing, excessive workloads and instances of violence resulting in injuries on the job. Dozens of nurses joined the picket line, marching, chanting and holding signs.  

“We work hard to care for our patients, and yet management is proposing a new contract that does not show us the same care and respect,” said Mitch Rubin, RN, NYSNA Labor Bargaining Unit Vice Chair at Gracie Square. “Expecting us to do this difficult work while being understaffed, overworked and getting injured on the job? That leads to nurse burn-out or worse. We are asking to improve nurse and patient safety, and they are proposing to make conditions less safe!” Read more here!