“It was very important to us because we are here to help the patients,” said nurse Ted Levine.
After three consecutive days of strike, the New York State Nursing Association reaches a tentative agreement with two private hospitals Mount Sinai in Manhattan and Montefiore in the Bronx.
The agreement was hailed by the union as a historic victory for nurses, as it achieves what they have been asking for for months: a better nurse-to-patient ratio to ensure there are always enough staff on duty.
The agreement also includes:
- A salary increase of 19.1 percent.
- 170 new nursing positions
- Fully funded medical care for nurses, as well as lifetime medical coverage for staff who are already retired.
- An increase in the number of nursing supervisors for students.
- And an increase in nursing education infrastructure in emergency departments.
Gov. Kathy Hochul arrived at Mount Sinai Thursday morning to show her support for the 7,000 nurses who had taken to the streets on strike, describing them as ‘angels on earth’ for all their work caring for patients. .
From the governorship, they supported the negotiations.
With great emotion several health professionals expressed themselves:
“It’s an example that we hope other nurses, other nurses in all hospitals, across the country can follow and can learn that by fighting together we can achieve everything we need,” added Nurse Levine.
For her part, the president of the New York Nurses Union commented:
“When you stand up for your rights, it happens, we stood up for our patients, Mount Sinai needed to come to the table and offer safe patient numbers to nurses, with language reinforcement and that happened, we did it!” said Nancy Hagans, RN and president of the New York Nurses Union.
The nurses have already returned to their work.
It is important to note that this agreement is tentative and will be presented next week to union members for a vote and ratification of the terms of the contract.
