Deadline passes in Northwell nurses' contract talks; talks to continue, officials say

An early Thursday deadline for a new contract for nurses at three Northwell Health hospitals on Long Island came and went without an agreement, but the union did not issue a strike notice, even though nurses last week overwhelmingly authorized it to do so.

There has been no significant progress in negotiations with Northwell, the union, the New York State Nurses Association said in an email Thursday afternoon. Negotiations will resume on Friday, the union said.

More than 1,000 nurses at Northwell hospitals in Huntington, Plainview and Syosset voted overwhelmingly last week to authorize a strike after months of stalled contract talks, the union said.

Northwell declined to comment Thursday beyond what it released on Dec. 22 and again on Wednesday: "Northwell Health values and invests deeply in our nurses and the essential role they play in caring for our communities. Our hospitals are engaged in ongoing, constructive negotiations with the New York State Nurses Association and have consistently bargained in good faith. Our focus remains on reaching a fair and responsible agreement that supports our nurses and ensures the continuity of high-quality, compassionate care our patients rely on."

The strike authorization allows the union to issue a notice to strike at any time, although the deadline set by the union has passed, nurses would not immediately walk off the job. Under federal law, the union must give the nurses' employer and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service at least 10 days’ notice before a strike can begin — a window during which further negotiations could still take place.

Northwell did not respond to questions on what plans it has in the event of a strike and how a strike would affect patient care.

Staffing levels and patient-to-nurse ratios have been a central sticking point in negotiations, union representatives and nurses said.

 "We need that safe staffing in order to do our jobs," said Ann Lala, 60, an operating room registered nurse who has worked at Syosset Hospital since 1999. "Without safe staffing, our patients don’t get the care that they deserve."

Lala, who has been involved in negotiations, said progress has been "creeping" along and that nurses are feeling disheartened by the proposals Northwell has put forward. The Syosset nurses’ contract expired on Oct. 12. 

Huntington Hospital nurses are negotiating their first contract after voting last year to leave their previous union and join NYSNA. Nurses at Plainview have been working without a contract since Nov. 4.