10,000 nurses in New York City still without a contract as potential strike date looms
NEW YORK -- We are four days away from a possible nurses' strike in the city.
Thousands of nurses at five hospitals are threatening to walk out as early as Monday if a new contract is not agreed to.
Any work stoppage would create chaos. At Mt. Sinai, there's already an effort to divert ambulances, and starting Friday morning, babies at the neonatal ICU will start getting transferred to other hospital systems as the contract talks continue.
More than 10,000 nurses in the city without a contract, and if that doesn't change, they plan to strike.
"Get serious, and negotiate contracts that will help your nurses deliver the quality care our patients deserve," said Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association.
Hagans said there are still a handful of hospitals that haven't come to an agreement.
"Staffing is a top priority," Hagans said.
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One of the hospitals still at odds with the union is Montefiore. In a statement, leadership said, "Despite a generous offer that includes an 18% wage increase, fully funded health care for life, and a significant increase in registered nurses in the emergency departments," they haven't been able to agree.
The nurses' union says it has issue with hallway beds at Montefiore, and agreed to nurse-to-patient ratios that haven't been honored.
There have been signs of progress. Richmond University Medical Center struck a deal, saying in a statement, "This agreement is a solid investment for our hospital and recognizes our exceptional team of nursing professionals who are the cornerstone of our institution."
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Maimonides Health also found common ground, saying its agreement "recognizes the essential contributions of our indispensable nursing staff."
"The problem with a strike is that everybody loses. There's no winners in a strike," said Kenneth Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association. "We're very apprehensive about the situation that's developing."
He said those without an agreement are working to make changes ahead of Monday's potential strike.
"You can't take major institutions offline without serious consequences. Elective surgeries will clearly be backed up," Raske said.
And other changes include diverting ambulances, discharging patients earlier than they may have otherwise been discharged. At Mt. Sinai, travel nurses are being prepared should they be needed.
"We regret that Mt. Sinai is choosing to spend time and money on strike planning instead of negotiating a fair contract," Hagans said.