Nurses Strike At Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — About 200 nurses walked out of Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital at 7 a.m. Tuesday, beginning a two-day strike over contract negotiations.

Kathy Santioemma, New York State Nurses Association leader at New Rochelle, said the nurses were hoping to avoid a strike Tuesday and Wednesday, but they felt the hospital didn't want them to have a voice in patient safety.

"After so many bargaining sessions, their position on safe staffing still has not changed," she said. "They're not willing to spend a dime to ensure we have enough nurses to safely care for our community."

Brian Conway, a spokesman for the Greater New York Hospital Association, called the decision to go out on strike "extremely distressing."

"We have the utmost respect for nurses, but with Montefiore New Rochelle already on a state 'watch list' for severe economic distress, NYSNA leadership's decision to strike is a grievous action especially during a second COVID-19 surge," he said in a prepared statement.

"It could push Montefiore New Rochelle over the edge," Conway said.

In a statement Monday, Marcos Crespo, senior vice president of community affairs for Montefiore Medicine, said the hospital had offered more than 7 percent in wage increases to the nurses, as well as medical expenses for retired nurses, tuition reimbursement, health insurance that didn't require employee contribution and funding for the pension fund.

The union has asked for safer working conditions, a reduction in the number of patients nurses care for at any given time and better salaries and benefits.

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