(SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK) – New York State Nurses Association-Represented Nurses at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a Strike with 98% of Nurses voting in favor of authorization.

The Nurses have been working with an expired contract since July 31st and decided to vote on authorizing a Strike after a slow week of bargaining that saw little movement on two key issues, safe staffing and respectful wages, Union Officials said.

Since negotiations began on June 30th, Nurses have been clear about their commitment to doing “whatever it takes” to win a fair contract by packing the room during bargaining meetings, launching a petition campaign, and having more than 130 Nurses march on the CEO to present their demands on July 26th.

If NYSNA Nurses cannot reach a tentative agreement with St. Catherine of Siena Administration, Nurses would have to deliver a 10-day notice before going out on Strike.

Registered Nurse (RN) Tammy Miller, who serves as NYSNA President at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, said: “It’s simple - we are fighting for safe staffing for our patients and the wages we deserve and need to recruit and retain Nurses.  Striking is a last resort and not a decision we take lightly, but we’ve made our concerns clear to management and now it’s time for them to deliver.”

Lorraine Incarnato, a NYSNA-represented Nurse at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, said: “Nurses at St. Catherine are done allowing management to treat us like zeroes, instead of heroes. This vote shows that Nurses are united and ready to do whatever it takes to win a great contract for our patients and the Smithtown Community.”

NYSNA, which represents more than 42,000 Members across the State, is New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of RNs, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: 98% of NYSNA Nurses at St. Catherine of Siena Vote to Authorize a | New York State Nurses Association

Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA’s Facebook Page.