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One of the guiding principles of 1199SEIU is that RNs have the strongest voice to advocate for our profession and our patients when we stand together in unity. This core belief has made 1199SEIU the most effective organization for RNs in New York State, and has enabled us to win the highest RN job standards. In this spirit of unity, we have called on all nurse unions to sign an agreement that we will focus on uniting nurses who need a union organization. Unfortunately, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) does not share our vision of unity. Recently, NYSNA staff have been interrupting 1199 members at work in order to spread nasty, underhanded rumors. It’s important for RNs to have clear, accurate information about why NYSNA is acting so irresponsibly. THE FACTS
About Nurse Unity
 | | "Joining 1199 gives me peace of mind.” Irene Pinckney , RN, Peninsula Hospital |
Over the years, thousands of NYSNA members have called 1199SEIU asking to join our union. In the past, our answer to those nurses had always been that they should work within NYSNA to address that organization’s shortcomings. Then, in March of this year, NYSNA and one of their allies, the California Nurses Association (CNA), participated in an effort to crush the hopes of 8,000 Ohio nurses and other hospital employees who were trying to join SEIU. NYSNA and CNA staff descended days before the union election, handing out rabid anti-union literature, calling workers at their homes, and aggressively confronting employees on the floors. They went so far as to say that nurses are better off without a union than with SEIU. This anti-union campaign created so much confusion, fear and anxiety amongst RNs and other workers that a fair election process was impossible. The election was cancelled and those workers now have no union. It was at this point that 1199SEIU decided to let NYSNA members join our union if they choose. Then in May, RNs at Peninsula Hospital in New York City voted by 140 to 30 to leave NYSNA and join 1199SEIU.
"I voted for 1199 because it is a stronger union and a bigger union. NYSNA didn’t care about my well being. A NYSNA representative said to me, ‘You’re not at a big city hospital. You’re mom and pop. You should be happy to have a job." Margaret Galligan, RN, Peninsula Hospital
Peninsula RNs had been deeply dissatisfied with NYSNA for many years, particularly because NYSNA had failed to achieve retirement benefits and basic economic security for their members.  | | "We came to 1199, and I have never met as many people that are sincere, truthful and professional. I have never felt this way about NYSNA in all of the years I’ve been a member.” Mary Bridget Burke, RN Peninsula Hospital |
Moving Forward For Our Patients & Our Profession
The 1199SEIU RN Council believes the only solution is for all the unions involved to sign an agreement that we will focus on uniting RNs who do not have a union, rather than interfering with union members. Unfortunately, NYSNA and the CNA have so far refused to sign such an agreement. TAKE ACTION!
Sign our online public petition for nurse unity! Our petition calls on NYSNA and the CNA to sign an agreement that we will all focus on uniting nurses who need a union voice and move forward with the mission closest to our hearts: protecting our patients, advancing our profession and achieving quality, affordable healthcare for all.
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