More than 10,000 New York City nurses at three health systems have ratified a four-year agreement, hospital and union officials confirmed.
The agreement — which expires Dec. 31, 2022 — covers nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian systems.
It calls for the initial hiring of 1,500 new nurses, including nurses to fill existing openings, according to the New York State Nurses Association, which represents the nurses.
It will also include an additional $100 million to hire nurses for newly added full-time positions at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center and Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s hospitals.
A union news release says registered nurse staffing will depend on staffing ratio contract language that will be enforced by an independent neutral party.
The agreement also includes across-the-board wage increases of 3 percent annually over the life contract and full retroactive pay.
"Everyone in these negotiations recognized that there are not enough nurses to safely care for our patients. With this contract, we've come a long way to resolving the critical understaffing at the three hospital systems. That's been our priority throughout. 'Safe staffing saves lives' is our reality, and with this contract we have made tremendous gains that will help us provide safe, quality care to our patients," said Anthony Ciampa, RN, the union's first vice president and president of the NewYork-Presbyterian Executive Committee.
Marc Kramer, lead negotiator for the NYC Hospital Alliance and president of the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes, also spoke positively about the agreement.
"We are proud to have an agreement with NYSNA that underscores our commitment to our nurses as essential members of our care teams and to providing the best personalized care for patients," he told Becker's in an emailed statement. "Nurses help save lives every day. This significant investment in our nursing teams will ultimately benefit patients in the long term, while preserving hospitals' flexibility to deliver the individual, tailored healthcare that our institutions are known for around the world."
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