(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and National Nurses United (NNU) have announced an overwhelmingly vote to affiliate with NNU, the largest Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses (RNs) in the United States, to mutually grow and strengthen the power of Nurses within New York State and nationally to advocate for themselves and their patients.

NYSNA’s nearly 42,000 Members will increase NNU’s Membership close to 225,000 Nurses and will also bring NYSNA into the National AFL-CIO, of which NNU is already a Member Union.

NYSNA, the oldest Nurses Association in the country and one of the most influential Nurses Unions, will gain greater resources and capacity, particularly in the Federal arena, by joining NNU, Union Officials said.

The vote to affiliate came at NYSNA’s recently-held annual convention, where elected leaders in every NYSNA-represented facility in the State come together to decide the strategic direction of the Union.

The two organizations are well aligned in their approaches to powerful representation on behalf of Nurses and the profession, supporting efforts such as creating strong workplace standards to protect Nurses from infectious diseases like COVID-19, establishing Federal Safe Staffing Laws, holding employers responsible for preventing workplace violence, and fighting for health care justice in our wider society.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “COVID-19 has shown that Nurses nationwide face the same issues and challenges at work.  There is strength in numbers and a NYSNA affiliation with NNU will strengthen our fight to protect Nurses, our patients and our communities.  We are thrilled that this affiliation connects us more closely to the National and International Labor Movement, which is essential to improving the lives of Working People.”

NNU President Jean Ross said: “This is a great day for Nurses in New York and across the country.  NYSNA is already a powerhouse in its own right and has done such an amazing job representing Nurses in New York State.  We are honored they have voted to join forces with us in building our national movement of Nurses to fight for our profession, our patients and the health of our communities.”

NNU’s other affiliate Nursing Organizations include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, the District of Columbia Nurses Association, the Michigan Nurses Association and the Minnesota Nurses Association, which recently engaged in the largest Nurses Strike in U.S. History.