Nurses Speak Out In Letter To Northwell CEO Demanding Fair Contract

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — New York State Nurses Association nurses from Northwell Hospitals spoke out and sent a letter to the President and CEO of Northwell Health demanding a fair contract.

The letter, signed by more than 150 nurses from Plainview and Syosset hospitals, was delivered on Wednesday to John D'Angelo.

More than 1,000 nurses at three Northwell facilities have been bargaining for a new union contract for months, and Northwell responded to NYSNA by delaying and denying nurses' demands, according to NYSNA.

Nurses from Northwell/Plainview, Northwell/Syosset, and Northwell/Huntington gathered at Northwell headquarters on Dec. 12 for a rally and speak-out in an effort to fight for quality patient care. NYSNA called on management to settle a fair contract and announced that they will begin taking strike authorization votes. A 'yes' vote authorizes NYSNA's bargaining committees to call for a strike if a contract is not reached by their target deadline of Dec. 31, according to NYSNA.

When asked for a comment on the letter, Northwell Health responded to Patch with a statement:

"Northwell Health values and invests deeply in our nurses and the essential role they play in caring for our communities. Our hospitals are engaged in ongoing, constructive negotiations with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and have consistently bargained in good faith. Our focus remains on reaching a fair and responsible agreement that supports our nurses and ensures the continuity of high-quality, compassionate care our patients rely on."

Cynthia Donenfeld, RN, at Northwell/Plainview, wrote the original letter and shares her opinion, which is also included in the letter.

"The disconnect between your message of shared purpose, the actions of your bargaining team, and the reality of these contract proposals is disheartening and disillusioning," she said. "All Northwell nurses want is to deliver safe, high-quality care with dignity and support. We need our leadership to truly share our commitment to compassionate, quality care. You can demonstrate your commitment by negotiating the fair contracts that Northwell nurses and patients deserve."

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, CCRN, added, “NYSNA nurses are making big changes on Long Island and standing up to the state’s largest private employer. This is what nurses do. They are first and foremost patient advocates, fighting to improve patient care. Northwell nurses are united and will not stop until they get the contracts that respect patients and Long Island communities.”

The letter asks the CEO to commit to a fair contract for the nurses. The letter begins by stating that on Oct. 1, Northwell sent a message to staff emphasizing leadership through purpose.

"Your words resonated with many of us," the letter NYSNA nurses shared said. "However, the current contract proposals being presented to the nurses stand in opposition to that message. The offers Northwell has presented include inadequate pay and benefits and work rules that will negatively impact nurse and patient safety."

NYSNA nurses stated in the letter that Northwell negotiators arrive late and unprepared to the bargaining table and often leave negotiations early.

"They aim to settle fair contracts by the end of the year, but instead of negotiating fair contracts that help hire and retain nurses for safe staffing, Northwell management is asking for major concessions that could erode quality care on Long Island," NYSNA wrote in a release. "Northwell nurses are uniting to demand Northwell prioritize quality care on Long Island."

NYSNA shared that safe staffing is a major concern for nurses to help keep patients safe, and they stated that management wants to keep staffing levels that "don't reflect the increased demands in units like the emergency room, where nurses are asked to take care of up to twelve patients."