(BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) – After more than 45 days, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses at the Brooklyn Hospital Center have won back their health care benefits. This comes after Nurses took their demands directly to the luxury condo of CEO Gary Terrinoni last week. Nurses marched alongside their Labor Allies and Elected Officials to call out hospital executives, who earlier had received millions in New York State funding - but failed to fully pay and reinstate Nurses’ benefits. Almost immediately, the hospital finalized the payments to restore the Nurses’ health coverage. But the NYSNA Nurses are not done. They will continue fighting to ensure the hospital covers past medical expenses, never lets their health care lapse again and fully pays the pension contributions owed, Union Officials said.

Background Story:

NYSNA-Represented Nurses At The Brooklyn Hospital Center ‘Bring Their Message To Restore And Secure Health Benefits To The CEO’

NYSNA News

(BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) - On St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th), New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses at the Brooklyn Health Center, who’ve been without health insurance for more than 45 days, took their demands to reinstate coverage to CEO Gary Terrinoni’s luxury condo.

Nurses have been working without health insurance after hospital executives failed to pay into their benefit fund.

The Brooklyn Hospital Center has cited financial constraints and requested emergency funds from New York State.

The Hospital received millions in funding - more than enough to pay for Nurses’ health coverage, but only made a partial payment that was not enough to restore benefits.

On March 16th, after increasing pressure from NYSNA Nurses and State and Elected Officials, hospital executives finally made another necessary partial payment that should finally reinstate Nurses’ health benefits in the near term.  

Now, NYSNA Nurses are demanding hospital administrators follow through on their commitment to restore health coverage, cover Nurses’ medical expenses and continue making future payments to the Benefit Fund to keep Nurses healthy and able to care for Brooklyn into the future.

While Nurses work without health coverage, the CEO and other top executives continue to take home millions of dollars in pay.

Together, executives at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, a Safety-Net Hospital, made more than $8 million a year in 2024.

In 2024, CEO Gary Terrinoni brought in nearly $2 million in executive pay.

Terrinoni owns a luxury condo in Brooklyn, a mansion in Pennsylvania and a house in a golf and beach resort community in Delaware.

There is no reason why the CEO of a Safety-Net Hospital should be living large while Front Line Nurses who care for the Brooklyn Community are forced to sacrifice their own health in order to care for patients, Union Officials said. 

NYSNA Nurses at the Brooklyn Hospital Center averted a Strike earlier this year when management agreed to a fair contract that protects health care benefits.

Although the hospital promised benefits, they have since reneged on their promise, NYSNA said.

Meanwhile, Nurses have made difficult decisions over the past month and a half.

Many have sought out insurance on the ACA Marketplace, others have paid for COBRA coverage, while others are working without any coverage, hoping the hospital pays their bills.

Nurses and their families have also put off essential doctor appointments and medications.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “When hospitals break their promises to Nurses, it’s patients who pay the price. The CEO put the lives of Nurses and patients in danger, while mischaracterizing the Hospital’s finances to the public. We should all be alarmed that this level of irresponsibility is behind the helm of such an important Hospital. Nurses at the Brooklyn Hospital Center should know that they have the power of NYSNA Nurses across the State behind them in this fight.”

New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Brendan Griffith said: “For more than forty days, Nurses at the Brooklyn Hospital Center have been forced to delay their own care, their children’s care and critical medical appointments because hospital executives have not honored their commitments. That is wrong. It’s wrong for Workers and it’s wrong for patients because Nurses need to be able to focus on their work, not worry about whether their own families can get medical care. Brooklyn deserves hospitals that respect the people who make care possible. The New York City Labor Movement says clearly to the leadership of The Brooklyn Hospital Center: ‘Keep your commitment. Pay what you owe. Restore Nurses’ health benefits now.’”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: NYSNA Nurses at the Brooklyn Hospital Center Bring Their Message to Restore and Secure Health Benefits to the CEO | New York State Nurses Association

Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA’s Facebook Page.