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More than 700 members of the New York State Nurses Association from Northwell Health voted overwhelmingly – 99.5 percent – to authorize a strike on Thursday, Feb. 1.
The healthcare professionals are employed by Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Valley Stream facility and Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. Their latest contract expired at the end of 2023.
Union leaders said they want to see an improvement in what they described as unsafe staffing levels. They’re also calling for higher pay.
“NYSNA members don't want to strike, but they're ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract to safeguard their patients and their profession,” the union said on Facebook.
“While management spends on lavish ad campaigns and executive pay, they have not delivered fair contracts for nurses and healthcare professionals. That's why NYSNA members at these Northwell facilities are voting to approve strike authorization.”
A spokesperson for LIJ Valley Stream told Daily Voice the company has met with union leaders on 11 different occasions since negotiations began in October 2023.
“[The hospital] will continue to bargain in good faith to reach a successor contract to their bargaining agreements that expired on Dec. 31, 2023," they said.
“Our goal is to reach an agreement that continues to provide our valued nurses with competitive compensation and benefits and ensures a safe, supportive working environment that enables them to provide exceptional care that our patients and community have come to trust.
“We remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached and look forward to positive and productive ongoing negotiations.”
Union leaders had not specified a possible strike date as of Friday, Jan. 2.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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