Nurses
fine-tune campaign before Lobby Day
By DEBORAH A. MILES
During April, nurses from across the state prepared for their May 2 rally at the
State Capitol by putting the final touches on their campaign — Save NY Nurses.
Nurses from Long Island to the North Country mailed thousands of postcards to
Gov. George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver, plus agency commissioners.
The postcards urged lawmakers to pass legislation to end mandatory overtime and
address short staffing issues to create a safer environment in health care
facilities.
Nancy Wolff, PEF nurse coordinator, said members also sent another postcard just
prior to May 2, and e-mailed letters to key legislative members.
The campaign to tighten-up endless hours of mandatory overtime began three years
ago, and each year the fight to persuade lawmakers to make changes has
intensified.
This year, PEF’s Public Relations Department produced a 30-second television
spot, print ads for major newspapers and a booklet that features true and
alarming stories about nurses working mandatory overtime.
Wolff said the nurses who shared their stories talked about caring for too many
patients and being forced to work too many hours, jeopardizing patient care. The
booklet was distributed to legislators and news editors to make elected
officials and the public aware of the state’s chronic abuse of mandatory
overtime and short staffing.
Wolff said nurse activists mobilized members to attend the rally, arranged bus
schedules and worked with PEF legislative staff to confirm appointments with
lawmakers.
The rally also involves coordinating with other unions — Service Employees
International Union 1199, New York State Nurses Association and New York State
United Teachers — to present a unified front.
A legislative hearing with testimony from PEF nurses on the hazards of mandatory
overtime will be the next step in the campaign.
It will take place in Manhattan on May 18.
The Communicator May 2007
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