NEW YORK (WABC) — New York City’s largest-ever nurses’ strike entered day three on Wednesday.
At the moment, negotiations appear to remain at a standstill as nearly 15,000 nurses in total are on strike at three private hospital systems: Mount Sinai, Montefiore and NewYork-Presbyterian.
Montefiore had criticized the union for “reckless demands” and “troubling proposals,” including one that prevents nurses from being fired, even if they’re found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job.
“NYSNA leadership’s demand that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job is another example of putting their own self-interest before patient safety,” officials said.
But the New York State Nurses Association said Montefiore was “blatantly mischaracterizing” one of its basic workplace proposals, which would have added protections for nurses dealing with substance use disorders and which has already been adopted in other hospitals around the state.
All of the hospitals impacted by the strike have stressed that they will remain open.
Montefiore Einstein released a memo President and CEO Philip Ozuah wrote sent to the staff saying, “Our Montefiore Einstein colleagues have rallied as a team to ensure the continued provision of the highest quality of care for all who seek us out at their most vulnerable. We have not canceled even one patient’s access to care.”
Mount Sinai said “the number of nurses who have put patients first and decided not to strike has grown from 20% percent to 23%.”
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