Long Island nurses are united for quality care, fair contracts
NYSNA South Shore RNs secure new deal, stand in solidarity with two other Northwell facilities
Staff report
National Nurse magazine - Jan | Feb | March 2025 Issue
Long Island nurses from Northwell Health/South Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health/ Huntington Hospital, and Mount Sinai South Nassau have all been fighting to win fair contracts for nurses and patients across Long Island. For nurses at two hospitals, Northwell/Huntington and Mount Sinai South Nassau, this will be their first union contract.
After calling a strike in mid March, the nurses at South Shore successfully negotiated and ratified a new three-year contract that includes improvements to safe staffing standards for quality patient care that improves safe staffing, wages and benefits, and includes a provision for nurses to review any artificial intelligence technology before it’s implemented — a first for nurses’ contracts in New York state. The contract, which nurses overwhelmingly ratified on March 13 and 14, also improves pay, benefits, and staffing, which are key to recruiting and retaining experienced nurses and ensures that Northwell/South Shore patients receive the best care possible.
Northwell and Mount Sinai, two of the wealthiest hospital systems in New York state, have been busy buying up smaller community hospitals and expanding their corporate care reach on Long Island and beyond. When Mount Sinai took over South Nassau hospital in 2018, it promised to turn the hospital into its “flagship” hospital on Long Island.
What’s certain is that health care costs and executive pay have skyrocketed, while nurses are stretched thin. Health care costs for patients and insurers increased by 68 percent since Mount Sinai took over the hospital. Mount Sinai CEO Kenneth Davis made nearly $7.3 million in salary, bonuses, and perks in 2023. A total of 10 Sinai executives and doctors made well over $1 million in 2023 in salary, bonuses, and perks.
Northwell formally took over South Shore in 2010, expanding its empire of Long Island hospitals to 12. Northwell invested hundreds of millions on building renovations and expansions, but has been less generous with nurses’ contracts. Northwell is currently focused on expanding in upstate New York and Connecticut. Regulators are likely to approve the takeover of Nuvance Health, despite concerns about likely price hikes for patients. Northwell CEO Michael Dowling made over $9 million in salary, benefits, and perks in 2023.
Nurses from Northwell/South Shore, Northwell/Huntington and Mount Sinai South Nassau are united in fighting back. Nurses from all three facilities are bargaining and organizing to support one another in their fight for fair contracts. At a meeting in February, they spoke about their shared issues, such as having employers who spend millions on executive salaries, marketing, and building expansions while dragging their feet on accepting commonsense proposals that ensure quality patient care and the recruitment and retention of nurses on Long Island.
Long Island nurses have taken action by walking the informational picket line, marching on the boss, speaking out, reaching out to the community with petitions and lawn and small-business signs, and organizing their colleagues. Nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau walked an informational picket line in December alongside union members and New York elected officials to demand Mount Sinai South Nassau deliver a fair contract. Northwell/Huntington nurses, who in November won their National Labor Relations Board election to join NYSNA, also hit the ground running. With a contract expiring at the end of February, Northwell/South Shore nurses started off the year by marching on the boss to deliver a petition demanding safe staffing and respect.
As the largest private employer in New York state, it’s clear Northwell can afford to invest in its nurses and patients. But instead of negotiating a fair contract with Northwell/South Shore nurses, Northwell had been busy interfering in nurses’ federal labor law rights by engaging in retaliation, interrogation, and surveillance of nurses. Now that Northwell/South Shore nurses have secured a strong contract, they turn their attention to helping their colleagues at the other two hospitals do the same.