A strike involving over 7,000 nurses at two New York City hospitals—and affecting about 1,000 Filipino nurses—has ended after three days, as they reached tentative offers with hospitals over staffing ranges, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) mentioned on Thursday.
Nurses at Montefiore Medical Center within the Bronx and Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan head again to work on Thursday morning after reaching an settlement for “enforceable safe staffing ratios,” the NYSNA mentioned in a press release.
“Through our unity and by putting it all on the line, we won enforceable safe staffing ratios at both Montefiore and Mount Sinai where nurses went on strike for patient care,” NYSNA president Nancy Hagans mentioned.
Montefiore additionally agreed to new language and monetary penalties for failing to adjust to secure staffing ranges, group well being enhancements and nurse pupil partnerships to recruit native Bronx nurses to remain as union nurses at Montefiore for the long-run, the affiliation mentioned.
The nurses went on strike on Monday after contract negotiations stalled over pay and staffing ranges, a transfer that pressured Montefiore to reschedule all elective surgical procedures and procedures and postpone appointments at ambulatory areas.
New York Governor Kathleen Hochul, in remarks after the settlement was introduced, praised the deal “to get thousands of nurses back on the job where they want to be” to help sufferers.
Hochul mentioned the 3-year contract may additionally assist the state handle the healthcare workforce scarcity with higher wages and situations that might draw extra staff, including: “Know you are respected, know you are appreciated.”
Union officers and members additionally praised the settlement in remarks together with the governor, calling it a “historic contract” that acknowledged nurses’ work, particularly within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a big win for the patients,” one Mount Sinai Hospital nurse advised reporters. — Reuters
