Members of the New York State Nurses Association are set to strike April 2 at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City.
The union represents 1,300 workers at the facility, according to an NYSNA news release. SIUH is part of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, a 21-hospital system with more than 85,000 employees total.
Union members voted to authorize a strike earlier this month. The union and hospital have been negotiating a new labor contract as the current deal is set to expire March 31, according to the union release. A hospital spokesperson shared a statement with Becker's that said SIUH is proud of the care the hospital's nursing team provides and looks forward to ongoing positive and productive negotiations with the union. "In the event of a strike, patient care remains our highest priority. Staten Island University Hospital will be fully operational and continue to provide continued, world-class care to our patients," the statement said.
The union cited concerns about having enough staffing to meet the needs of the Staten Island community and contends wages are also still a key sticking point at the bargaining table. Members are seeking a contract that ensures enough experienced nurses are at the bedside to provide safe patient care. "Without fair wages and safe staffing at our hospital, nurses like me are going to continue to leave for better jobs elsewhere, and that's not good for Staten Island," John Vuolo, RN, said in the union release. "We're calling on Northwell to do better and invest in our community."
"Staten Island University hospital is disappointed in NYSNA's decision to issue a strike notice but as always, our goal is to reach a fair contract," the hospital said in its statement. "We remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached, and we will continue to bargain in good faith."