WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) Executive Direct Pat Kane (on the left) and President Nancy Hagans (on the right) have helped guide the 42,000-Member Statewide Nurses Union since mid-2022 - and over the course of time have registered a number of very impressive victories for Union Caregivers in terms of beneficial and new contracts that have not only improved the lives of their Members, but their patients and the communities in which they live, work and serve.  Kane and Hagans recently took the time to speak with WNYLaborToday.com and discuss what’s gone right for NYSNA in recent months.  (NYSNA Photos/WNYLaborToday.com Collage)

If one could liken the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) to that of a Professional Prizefighter - you can begin to understand why the Union’s Executive Director, Pat Kane, and its President, Nancy Hagans, both say NYSNA “punches above our weight.”

Since the Fall of 2022, WNYLaborToday.com has published more than 30 stories on the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), reporting on, chronicling and detailing a number of successful efforts that have not only produced victory after victory for Nursing Professionals, but made their lives better, as well as for their patients and the communities where they work, live and serve in.

Here’s just a small sampling:

December 2022: Northwell Plainview Hospital & Syosset Hospital Ratify New Contract

January 2nd: NY-Presbyterian Hospital Reaches New Contract Agreement

January 6th: Maimonides Medical Center Reaches Tentative Agreement

January 8th: Mount Sinai Morningside and West Contract Agreement

January 12th: A three-day Strike at Montefiore and Mount Sinai involving 7,000 Nurses who “flexed power and won enforceable Safe Staffing Levels”

January 16th: South Nassau Nurses Go Union, Join NYSNA

February: Southside University Hospital/Northwell Health Nurses Ratify New Contract

And that’s just a portion of what has transpired at NYSNA since Kane and Hagans were voted into their leadership positions in June of last year.

In fact, what they, their Union and their Members’ hard work has accomplished has not gone unnoticed as NYSNA, Kane and Hagans were ranked as the 10th most influential Labor Leadership/Organization ranked by City & State in its 2023 New York State Labor Power 100 List (The 2023 State Labor Power 100 - City & State New York (cityandstateny.com)).

Interviewing the two via Zoom, Kane and Hagans’ answered an array of questions posed to them by WNYLaborToday.com’s which were highlighted by several key words and phrases: “Working Together,” “One strong Union,” “Unity is our strength, “Make it better,” “A Member-driven Union,” “The Members are our Union,” “Our Patients come first,” and “We fight for and stood up for our communities.”

“It ‘started with’ Nancy’s leadership,” said Kane of Hagans, who both oversee the running of NYSNA - New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses that represents more than 42,000 Members across the State.  “‘We are one strong Union, united to win.’  Our structure ‘is different.’  ‘We have no Locals - (NYSNA) has 160 different’ Bargaining Units across the State.  While most of our Members are in New York City, we have Membership in Westchester County and (Western New York - 300 Registered Nurses alone at the Erie County Medical Center).  There is ‘no more Upstate/Downstate.’  ‘We are a big Union in a big strength (and) Unity is our strength.’”

“We are ‘working - together,’” Hagans said.  “We are a ‘Member-driven Union’ and we’ve seen our Members ‘suffer in our hospitals that are understaffed.’  ‘Our goal has been to organize, achieve (wage) parity and attract and retain’ Nurses.  ‘Once we put our heads together, we made it better.’  ‘Connection is key.’”

“Our ‘incredible’ Members” is how Kane describes NYSNA Nurses. 

“Our Members, (they) ‘are the Union.’  ‘Over a long period of time, we’ve developed leaders’ (within NYSNA).  ‘And they bought into it and stepped up, especially what we went through - three years of trauma (during the COVID-19 Pandemic), but that made (Membership) more committed,” she said.

According to both Kane and Hagans, NYSNA affiliating with National Nurses United (NNU), the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses with more than 225,000 Members nationwide, was extremely important.

“It was ‘one of (our) best decisions,’” Hagans said.  “We ‘need to be (connected) on a national’ level.  (Before), ‘we had no opportunity to go to OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration) or the White House (to address) racial justice.’  ‘It gave us a seat at the table on a national level.’”

“It was ‘a lot like coming home,’” Kane said.  “It ‘reunited us with so many Nurses across so many states.’  ‘And it allowed us to be a part of the AFL-CIO and local Central Labor Councils’ (across New York State).  ‘To have solidarity with the largest Nurses Union is not nothing.’”

Looking back, NYSNA “settled ten contracts” during late December into early New Year.

Asked what was key by WNYLaborToday.com, Kane answered: “It was the ‘narrative - and Nurses were on point.’  ‘It was about taking care of our patients.’”

“‘Our patients come first,’” Hagans said.  “It’s a ‘real burden’ (for NYSNA Nurses), ‘who put their lives in danger’ (during the Coronavirus Pandemic).  They had to go home at night, ‘staying up all night thinking about what they’d done (during their shift at work), some with no days off and then going right back to work.’  Our Members ‘felt that enough was enough - they had to stand up for their patients.’”

Case in point, a three-day Strike at Montefiore and Mount Sinai Hospitals in New York City that showed how 7,000 NYSNA Nurses flexed their power and won enforceable staffing ratios.

“They ‘fought for their community,’” Kane said.  “And ‘they wanted to bring the hospitals back to their greatness.’”

As if the countless fights for better staffing, working conditions and wages weren’t enough to fill their plate, NYSNA also found time to organize Non-Union Nurses at South Nassau.

“You ‘don’t necessarily have to live Union, but you can be part of one,’” Kane (pictured below) said.  “Nancy saw that.  ‘Our issues are universal.’  While it was a (organizing) challenge, ‘this was an opportunity’ (for Non-Union Nurses).”

“We ‘want to’ organize,” Hagans (pictured below) said.  “(Nurses) ‘have stood up for our communities.’  ‘They saved New York City’ (during the pandemic).  ‘But you have to educate’ (Non-Union Nurses).  ‘They need to work in a hospital that is safe, that they are given time to take a deep breath, have a cup of coffee so they are mentally ready.’”

And if that wasn’t enough, NYSNA has stepped up its lobbying efforts with the State, pushing for more investment in Nurses, staffing and recruitment.

“I live on Staten Island and work in a Safety Net Hospital,” Hagans said. “‘I have to make sure the community is taken care of.’  These hospitals ‘won’t stay open without’ funding.  (Patients) ‘can’t go to another county for (their) health care.’  ‘We need to continue to organize and lobby - for underserved (communities) and also for mental health.’  ‘We are very strong on this - we make the time to lobby.’”

While a spotlight has been focused on the leadership of Kane and Hagans, both acknowledged NYSNA Staff for the job they do.

“They are ‘committed to our Members who are such an inspiring group of folks, many who work in disadvantaged communities, with People of Color.’  ‘We shine a light on that, these people who are working really hard,” they said.

“(Sometimes) ‘You don’t realize who is watching you,’” said Hagans, who along with Kane said they were “a little surprised” about the recognition they received from the City & State Labor Power 100 Listing.  “‘Our Nurses are taking care of our communities - our whole organization of Nurses, we are making a difference.’”

Getting back to the issues that most impact Nurses, both Kane and Hagans pointed to: Violence in hospitals (“One of our highest concerns because anyone can walk in and assault a Nurse.”); and a Lack of resources when it comes to staffing (“It’s ‘not safe’ for Nurses of (Hospital) Staff.  People ‘get frustrated when staffing is a problem and (that creates) emotional exposure.’  ‘We have to have a conversation’ (with the powers that be to make them understand.”).

Both Kane and Hagans disagree with those who say there is a “shortage” of Nurses to fill needed positions. 

“There ‘would be no shortage with decent’ working conditions,” Kane said.  “Nurses ‘would come back, but the health care system is broken.’”

Added Hagans: “It is ‘all pretty much a struggle.’  We ‘hope’ the Governor (Kathy Hochul will do more) ‘to save’ Safety Net Hospitals.  ‘They really need to take a look at that because it is our Black and Brown Communities that are suffering’ (where those hospitals are located).  ‘We need the Governor to provide fair funding’ (for those hospitals).  ‘We really need it.’”