On Dec. 19, members and supporters ral-
lied outside Montefiore Nyack Hospital to
announce the results of the strike vote—96
percent voted to strike. Anna Marie Perkins,
RN, a veteran nurse at Montefiore Nyack,
described why nurses were ready to strike.
"Nurses are overwhelmed," said Perkins.
"They go home at the end of the day know-
ing they weren't able to give the patients the
care they wanted to and can't sleep at night
because of this. We need to change this. We
need enforceable staffing ratios to protect
our patients and our nurses' mental and
physical health!"
Melissa Ricketts, RN, a nurse from Mon-
tefiore New Rochelle, put Montefiore on
notice, saying, "Safe staffing is No. 1 for New
Rochelle. As individual nurses, we do our
best every day, but it's sad when patients can
tell how understaffed we are. Patients
deserve better. They deserve quality care.
But as individuals, there's nothing more we
can do—the hospitals need to make a move."
After the rally, NYSNA nurses headed
back to the bargaining table. As the contract
expiration date approached, Montefiore
Mount Vernon was the first hospital to fall,
reaching a tentative agreement that included
historic wage increases in line with pay stan-
dards at Montefiore Bronx facilities. Nurses
also won strengthened safe staffing enforce-
ment language, improved health care
benefits, no pension givebacks, increased
tuition refunds, new mentorship programs,
and increased preceptor and charge pay.
New Rochelle nurses were the next to
win contract gains. Finally, after a marathon
24-hour bargaining session on the eve of the
contract expiration, Montefiore Nyack
yielded, averting a strike and delivering a
fair contract for nurses and patients. Nurses
at Nyack also won safe staffing ratios in their
contract for the first time and secured entry
into the NYSNA pension for the first time—
a milestone decades in the making.
As the dust settles on the One Monte
campaign, its legacy reverberates with
NYSNA nurses throughout the state who are
strategizing together, taking on common
employers and demanding their fair share.
Congratulations to the One Monte nurses
for their unwavering commitment and for
setting a high standard for nurse solidarity
and collective action.
—Staff report
Retiring soon?
Join the CNA/NNOC retiree division! CNA/NNOC
members in good standing who are age 62 or
are retiring due to a disability are eligible to join.
Dues are only $60 per year, and you will be a part
of an active, dynamic group of retired RNs who
work to continue our vision of social justice and
health care for all. More information and forms to
join are on the CNA/NNOC website here:
https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/
CNA-NNOC-retiree-division
J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y | M A R C H 2 0 2 4 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 15
