REPORT: July/August 2006

Ellis nurses reject health and pension cuts

by Mark Genovese

RNs at Ellis Hospital overwhelmingly rejected administration’s “final” contract offer on July 10, expressing their disapproval over imposed changes in their health and pension plans.

“Ellis nurses are telling management that heavy-handed tactics will only drive good nurses away,” said Vickie Longo, NYSNA nursing representative. “Such a loss would be detrimental to the hospital and a disaster for this community.”

Under changes unilaterally implemented by management, the nurses’ out-of-pocket costs have risen sharply and pensions for most of nurses have been severely reduced. In its “final” offer, management is demanding these changes be made permanent, as well as the right to change the nurses’ healthcare plan again in 2008 without their consent.

The most recent contract for the 420 RNs expired on Feb. 28. NYSNA has asked a federal mediator to call the hospital back to the table to discuss the nurses’ objections to the contract and give the hospital the opportunity to fix them.