(NEW YORK CITY) – New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) Members employed at NewYork-Presbyterian Gracie Square Hospital, one of New York City’s few Hospitals dedicated to psychiatric care, held an informational picket on Thursday (October 8th), calling on Hospital management to agree to a fair contract that addresses chronic understaffing and strengthens protections from workplace violence.

Gracie Square is part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Health System.

Nurses picketed outside the Upper East Side Hospital throughout the day and held a morning press conference to draw attention to conditions they say are putting both Nurses and patients at risk, including routine understaffing, excessive workloads and instances of violence resulting in injuries on the job.

Joined by a host of Elected Officials who spoke publicly on the Nurses’ behalf, dozens of Nurses joined the picket line, marching, chanting and holding signs.  

“We work hard to care for our patients and yet management is proposing a new contract that does not show us the same care and respect,” Registered Nurse (RN) Mitch Rubin, NYSNA’s Labor Bargaining Unit Vice Chair at Gracie Square.

“Expecting us to do this difficult work while being understaffed, overworked and getting injured on the job? That leads to Nurse burn-out or worse. We are asking to improve nurse and patient safety, and they are proposing to make conditions less safe!,” he said. 

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “Gracie Square management is asking the Nurses who take care of some of the most vulnerable patients to accept a contract that makes them and their patients less safe. Nurses have been clear that we need safe staffing and workplace violence protections and management should come back to the table ready to address those concerns.”  

NYSNA Nurses have been bargaining with Gracie Square management for months after their previous contract has expired.

The Nurses say management has proposed givebacks at the bargaining table on safe staffing and workplace violence protections, even as Nurses are pushing for greater investment in both areas.

Nurses said Thursday’s picket was intended to send a clear message that maintaining safe staffing levels and protecting Health Care Workers from violence must be central to any new agreement.

NYSNA represents 45,000 Members across the State and is New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for 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 Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: NYP-Gracie Square Nurses Picket to Demand Safe Staffing and Protections From Workplace Violence | New York State Nurses Association

Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA’s Facebook Page.