(NYACK, NEW YORK) - After a bargaining session that lasted 24-hours and before a Sunday, December 31st contract expiration date, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses employed at Montefiore Nyack Hospital reached a tentative agreement with the hospital, Union Officials announced. 

More than 400 Nurses at Nyack are now poised to vote on whether to ratify the tentative agreement, which will take place in early January, that includes: Safe staffing ratios in the contract for the first time, with an improved pathway to hold management accountable for patient safety; Record-setting wage increases that average 14% in the first year and up to 20% for new Nurses in year one to help recruit more Nurses; Inclusion in the NYSNA Pension Plan, a goal Nyack Nurses have fought for decades to accomplish; Recognition of Juneteenth and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as celebrated holidays; and Improved tuition reimbursement and pay differentials for specialized roles like Preceptor, Charge and Team Leader.  

This latest agreement comes on the heels of settlements at two other Montefiore Lower Hudson Valley Hospitals: Mount Vernon and New Rochelle Hospitals.

Nearly 800 Nurses across the three facilities bargained with a common contract expiration date and common bargaining platform for the first time. 

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “I could not be prouder of these Nurses, who demonstrated tremendous solidarity and resolve through months of difficult negotiations.  When Nurses fight, we win for our patients and our profession.  The landmark gains in this tentative agreement will help our Nurses deliver the quality care every community deserves.”  

Registered Nurse Anna Marie Perkins, the President of the Local Bargaining Unit at Montefiore Nyack, said: “Nurses at Nyack have been struggling to achieve safe staffing ratios, competitive wages and better benefits that will help fill Nurse vacancies and retain Nurses for quality care. Better benefits like the NYSNA pension will help retain Nurses and demonstrate respect for the hard work we do.  This agreement finally puts Nyack Nurses in line with wages and benefits of other Montefiore facilities and that should make a huge difference in retaining Nurses and improving working conditions and quality care for our patients.”  

The Nurses held speak-outs with Organized Labor, community and elected allies in November at Mount Vernon and Nyack Hospital in December, speaking out about understaffing and high Nurse vacancy rates at the facilities.

The Nurses demanded fair contracts that would help recruit and retain enough Nurses for safe, quality patient care. 

On December 19th, 96% of the Nurses voted to authorize a Strike at Montefiore Nyack, New Rochell and Mount Vernon Hospitals in the Lower Hudson Valley, demonstrating they were ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract. 

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 Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Montefiore Nyack Hospital Nurses Reach Tentative Agreement | New York State Nurses Association (nysna.org)