STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Nurses from Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, and Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze have voted to go on strike for a day if an agreement isn't reached between the hospitals and New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) on staffing issues.

Nurses across the state -- including those at the two Island facilities -- have been waging a campaign for increased staffing over the last several months, citing patients safety issues.

Nurses at the two Staten Island hospitals maintain they are often short staffed, citing instances when one nurse is left to care for as many as 20 patients on a regular shift.

NYSNA -- the union representing nurses at Richmond University Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze -- is fighting for minimum nurse staffing requirements at hospitals across the state.

"Our nurses have been saying it until they are blue in the face; they need more nurses in the hospitals. This is a sticking point. Our nurses have stepped up their advocacy," said Tara L. Martin, senior communications manager for NYSNA.

She said the ongoing negotiations between both hospitals and the NYSNA included meetings last week and some are scheduled for this week.

"If there's an impasse and still no means to reach a deal at this week's sessions, both hospitals will issue a 10-day notice, which is a note sent to management saying that in 10 days we intend to go on strike," said Martin.

ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS

Of the negotiations with NYSNA, Arleen Ryback, a Staten Island University Hospital spokeswoman, said: "We are continuing to negotiate in good faith with sessions scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday), Wednesday and Friday of this week and are optimistic that we will soon be able to reach a tentative agreement that our nurses can ratify."



"SIUH understands that our nurses are expecting an increase in staffing and recognizes the importance of the issue of retiree health benefits, as well as agreement on wage increases over the next three years," she added.

Said William Smith, a Richmond University Hospital spokesman: "We are continuing to engage in negotiations with NYSNA on a collective bargaining agreement. Staffing is a mutual priority in these negotiations, and we believe that progress has been made to address that issue. We look forward to a settlement that is beneficial to NYSNA's membership and the hospital."

STRIKE CONTINGENCY PLANS



Despite the ongoing negotiations, both hospitals are devising contingency plans to put in place if a strike occurs.

"We can assure our patients, their families and the entire community that we will be fully operational and well prepared should a walkout occurs," said Ryback.

Said Smith: "As one of two hospitals serving nearly 500,000 Staten Island residents, we have an obligation to our community to keep the hospital operational during a strike. We have contingency plans in place and will be prepared to implement them should NYSNA leadership initiate a strike."

Neither hospital spokesperson would share specifics of the contingency plans.

VOTE IN FAVOR OF STRIKE

Last week, 95 percent of the nurses from 14 hospitals across the city voted in favor of a strike, said Martin.

While some hospitals have banded together to engage in joint negotiations with the union, both Staten Island University Hospital and Richmond University Medical Center are bargaining individually with NYSNA, she said.

Nurses at Staten Island University Hospital's Prince's Bay site belong to a different union.

"Our patients' well-being -- their very lives -- depend on real staffing standards that enable us to simply do our jobs: to deliver safe quality care," said Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN and NYSNA president, who works in the emergency room at Montefiore Moses Hospital in the Bronx.

In April, NYSNA nurses at the Ocean Breeze site of Staten Island University Hospital and at Richmond University Medical Center led protests to highlight the staffing issues at both hospitals.

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