(UTICA, NEW YORK) - In the weeks before the new downtown Wynn Hospital opened, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses spoke out publicly for a fair, unified agreement with the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS).  As two hospitals merged into one, Union Representatives were in negotiations on a new agreement to cover all Nurses at the new hospital - but now, NYSNA charges MVHS is retaliating against its Member Nurses who participated in the speak-outs before Wynn Hospital opened.

Hospital Administration has compiled a list of Nurses who attended the speak-outs and they have illegally threatened these nurses with discipline, NYSNA alleges. 

And this week, Hospital Administration began "coaching sessions" to silence those NYSNA Members advocating on behalf of their patients, the Union also charged.

NYSNA is deeply disappointed the MVHS Administration is choosing to respond to our calls for a fair and unified agreement that will help deliver quality care to our community with illegal and disciplinary actions and attempts to silence Nurses, NYSNA said in a released statement.

In the face of these intimidation tactics, NYSNA Nurses will continue to speak out and advocate for our patients and for enough Nurses to safely care for our community, the Union said.

NYSNA has demanded MVHS cease and desist its alleged illegal behavior and is also filing Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges against Wynn Hospital, it said.

There is still no agreement in place at the new hospital and talks between NYSNA and the Hospital’s Administration are ongoing because MVHS still wants to cut Nurse pay and benefits, despite more than 200 open positions, the Union said.

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

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), 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: Nurses Respond to Illegal Retaliation by MVHS | New York State Nurses Association (nysna.org)