(BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) - New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) Nurses and their allies celebrated as a Nurse Leader who was suspended for engaging in protected Union activity was returned to work.

Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse (RN) Sarah Dowd walked back into the Hospital for her early morning shift and again at noon with the support of several NYC Health+Hospitals(H+H)/Kings County Colleagues, NYSNA Nurses from other NYC H+H Facilities and Elected Officials.  

Dowd said: “NYSNA Nurses across H+H stood up to demand management respect our right to organize. We will enforce our Safe Staffing Ratios and will not be silenced. Any further efforts to silence or intimidate Nurses will be addressed with the power of our solidarity. With our rights firmly established, we can get back to the invaluable work of ensuring every patient gets cared for by a Nurse with a safe and appropriate workload.” 

After NP Dowd was retaliated against and suspended without pay for advocating for safe staffing at NYC Health+Hospitals/ Kings County. Subsequently, NYSNA Members and the Union’s allies made their voices heard with more than 1,000 people signing a petition demanding H+H reinstate Dowd.

NYSNA held a speak-out at H+H/Kings where Members gave powerful testimony about their rights as Union Nurses to speak to colleagues and advocate for Nurse and patient safety. 

Community and Labor Allies spoke out in solidary, including; New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Brendan Griffith; Carolyn Martinez-Class, the Co-Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York; and Rob Solano, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Churches United for Fair Housing.  

Said Griffith: “Nurses have the right to advocate for their patients and hold management accountable to the contracts they've negotiated, without fear of retaliation. The New York City Labor Movement stands with NYSNA in demanding that H+H lift this suspension, respect Nurses' Union Rights and honor its staffing commitments.” 

After Dowd’s investigatory meeting last week, H+H agreed to reinstate her - with full back pay.  

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “When we fight, we win! We rallied for our rights and now our Member is back at work where she can continue her strong patient advocacy. Every patient deserves safe, quality care and NYSNA is proud that strong Union Nurses are advocating to make that promise a reality at H+H, the Nation’s largest Public Hospital System.”

NYSNA represents 45,000 Members across the State and 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 Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: NYSNA Nurse Reinstated at New York City Health+Hospitals/Kings County | New York State Nurses Association

NYSNA Photo Via Facebook.