Members of the New York State Nurses Association at Northwell Health's Long Island Jewish Valley Stream (N.Y.) and Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, N.Y., plan to strike beginning Feb. 21.
The union represents about 700 nurses and healthcare professionals at the facilities, according to a Feb. 9 NYSNA news release. Northwell Health, based in New Hyde Park, N.Y., has more than 85,000 employees total.
Union members voted to authorize a strike on Feb. 1. They said in a news release that they are seeking fair contracts that prioritize safe staffing and fair wages and benefits to help recruit and retain nurses, similar to what nurses at other Northwell facilities have negotiated in their contracts.
Chris Honor, BSN, RN, local president at Peconic and NYSNA Southeastern regional director, said in the release: "We, the nurses and healthcare professionals of Peconic, are united. We have our eye on the prize — a fair contract with safe staffing that will allow us to retain healthcare workers and provide excellent patient care. We see striking as a last resort, but I'm confident because my colleagues are confident that we must do what it takes because we are committed to doing what's best for our patients. If that means going on strike, we are ready."
Northwell shared the following statement with Becker's: "LIJ Valley Stream Hospital and Peconic Bay Medical Center are disappointed in NYSNA's decision to issue a strike notice but as always, our goal is to reach a fair contract. We remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached and will continue to bargain in good faith. We look forward to ongoing positive and productive negotiations with NYSNA. In the event of a strike, patient care remains our highest priority. We will continue to serve our patients and our community by providing uninterrupted world-class care."