Thousands of Nurses at Two New York City Hospitals on Strike
On Monday, more than 7,000 nurses walked out of the hospital demanding better working conditions, staffing policies and high salaries.
According to CNN, the nurses claim they are working in unsafe conditions for long hours, without enough pay.
“After bargaining late into the night at Montefiore and Mount Sinai Hospital yesterday, no tentative agreements were reached. Today, more than 7,000 nurses at two hospitals are on strike for fair contracts that improve patient care,” the New York State Nurses Association (NSYNA) announced on Monday.
Nurses and supporters gathered out on the picket line Monday morning, filling two city blocks, CNN reported. Picketers were chanting “Safe staffing saves lives” earning support from drivers passing by and honking their horns.
Nurses argue that the staffing problems are causing them to be overworked and burned out. Doreen Chulon, a nurse in Montefiore’s neurology department for 15 years said that “the ratio has gone from one nurse for every four patients to one for every six, which is a safety problem for the department’s patients who are often confused or in altered mental states and at a high risk of falling,” per CNN.
Chulon also claimed that nurses in her department are being forced to work without breaks and have no time for meals.
The hospitals criticized the union for walking out instead of accepting the 19.1% compound wage increase, referring to Monday as “a sad day for New York City.”
Montefiore explained in a statement, “Despite Montefiore’s offer of a 19.1% compounded wage increase — the same offer agreed to at the wealthiest of our peer institutions — and a commitment to create over 170 new nursing positions … NYSNA’s leadership has decided to walk away from the bedsides of their patients.”
However, the major complaint at the two New York City hospitals is that the nurses are being overworked and they “need management to come to the table and provide better staffing,” Nancy Hagans, president of the NYSNA, said.
According to a city official, the effect of the strike on the New York City hospital system appears to be minor so far.
