REPORT: October/November 2006

2006 Delegate Assembly Award: Linda Madill

Linda Madill, co-chair of NYSNA’s bargaining unit at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, was the recipient of the 2006 Delegate Assembly Award.

Madill made her decision to be a nurse in high school. “Forty years ago it was a good thing to do,” she laughed. “Out of our class, five of us went to nursing school, with four of us finishing together.” Madill went to nursing school at the House of the Good Samaritan, now Samaritan Medical Center. She graduated from school in June 1967 and went to work that same month at Samaritan. She has been in the OR for all but two years of her career.

Madill was drawn to become a leader in NYSNA during the September 1987 strike at the hospital. “To see all of the nurses stick together like that, I knew it was a great thing to provide better care for the patients and the nurses.”

As a bargaining unit leader, she has been motivated by a desire to correct injustices, improve patient care, and improve workplace conditions for her fellow nurses. Among her most significant experiences as a bargaining unit leader was negotiating on a somber Sept. 11, 2001, as the impact of the day’s horrific events unfolded. “We negotiated until 4 a.m. the next day. We came out not only with a new contract, but a new respect for each other and what we all do.”

Nursing is much more challenging today, Madill said, now that the job is done with much fewer staff. “Also the computer can be intimidating for more experienced nurses; it’s a changing world.”

She said Martha Hogarth, associate director of NYSNA’s Economic & General Welfare program has been an inspiration to her in her work as bargaining unit chair. “Martha shows us how to reach the objective when pursuing a grievance and the multiple creative ways to achieve it.” She also cited NYSNA Nursing Representative Betty Oberton, recipient of the 1996 Delegate Assembly Award, who was then outgoing president of the bargaining unit when Madill took over the job. “Her knowledge was invaluable,” Madill said.

Madill describes herself as “a good person and not too aggressive, but I do get my way many times very quietly.” She loves to cross-stitch and enters her work for judging at the Jefferson County Fair. “I always want to improve and feel good about my accomplishments.”