Nurses from Staten Island (N.Y.) University Hospital's Ocean Breeze campus voted May 18 to authorize the option to strike, according to a Staten Island Advance report.
The vote, which covers nurses represented by the New York State Nurses Association, comes amid contract negotiations.
The nurses union said staffing, health insurance, union rights and pay remain key sticking points, and has claimed previous talks failed to lead to "a fair and equitable response from hospital executives," according to the report.
The hospital, part of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, expressed disappointment in the strike authorization vote and said it hopes to avoid a strike.
"We remain hopeful we can reach agreement on a new contract," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review, adding that it is prepared, however, should a strike take place.
"Ensuring patient safety and maintaining high quality care is our top priority. We have taken steps to ensure that the hospital's North Site remains fully operational if the union moves forward with a strike. We have contracted with a nationally respected nursing agency to staff our hospital with highly qualified, professional nurses," a statement from the hospital reads.
A strike authorization does not mean a strike will occur. The nurses would still have to call a strike and provide the hospital with at least 10 days' notice. Overall, according to the hospital, both sides have participated in nearly 40 negotiating sessions in the last 11 months. Another negotiating session is slated for May 24.
More articles on human capital and risk:
Shuttle drivers at St. Louis hospital, university vote to unionize
McLaren Lapeer Region nurses to picket over staffing
Stony Brook University Hospital nurses protest over pay