| Nurses power rally
gets bills moving Story and Photos By DEBORAH A. MILES This wasn’t the first rally to urge lawmakers to pass bills that would end mandatory overtime and create safe staffing levels in New York’s health care facilities. But union leaders are hoping it’s the last. On a perfect day in May, 700 nurses from across the state who represented five different labor unions showed their unity by wearing “Save NY Nurses” T-shirts, and waving “Floor Vote Now” signs at the steps of the State Capitol. It was a show of solidarity and power. Their goal was to convince the Legislature and governor that being required to work double shifts creates a potential for medical mistakes, erodes family life and discourages people from joining the nursing profession. What made this rally more impressive was the energy and determination to get the Mandatory Overtime Bill (S125/A1898A), sponsored by Sen. Thomas Morahan and Assembly Member Aileen Gunther, moving. In past years, even though the unions involved — PEF, NYS Nurses Association, NYS United Teachers, 1199/Service Employees International Union, and the Communication Workers of America — fought long and hard, and gained more legislative support, the bill never made it to the governor. “Last year, we faced some harsh realities about the legislative process. This year, we are back with an expanded coalition and revised strategy for getting the Morahan/Gunther bills to the floors of the Senate and Assembly,” said Dee Dodson, PEF Region 12 coordinator and Nurses Committee chair. “These are serious issues and it is inconceivable how New York is lagging behind 11 other states that have already passed similar laws. Safe, quality patient care cannot be valued if the health care provider is not valued and protected. If our lawmakers set limits, they will save lives. “We also need national laws,” Dodson said. Legislative support Gunther, who is also an RN, was among the dozen speakers who got the crowd shouting and blowing whistles. “We as health care providers cannot be silent any longer,” she said. The nurses cheered. Morahan called the nursing shortage in New York a “public health care crisis.” “The average age of nurses is 52, and they will all retire at the same time. We need incentives to attract new people to the profession,” Morahan said. “Management is not wedded to the concept of preventing mandatory overtime. It is not an incentive. It is what I call DONS — dangerous overworked nurse syndrome.” The crowd went wild when state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said the Mandatory Overtime Bill had moved to the floor of the Senate. They roared even more when Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith said, “When you leave here today, you will find out that the people running this state will finally get your message. That’s why they call me the ‘nudge.’ PEF President Ken Brynien aimed a salvo at the state’s leaders. “We’ve been here year after year and we’ve been presenting this just cause to the people who run the building behind us. We are here for families, patients and New York health care,” Brynien said. “And we keep getting no satisfaction.” In their own words A group of nurses from Rockland Psychiatric Center, who attended the rally for the first time, said they don’t understand why New York is behind the times, since 11 other states have laws or regulations to limit or ban mandatory overtime. “The Legislature needs a wake-up call to the real danger of having a nurse who is taking care of 20 patients and has been on duty for 16 hours,” said Sciencia Torchon, a nurse at Rockland PC. “Mandatory overtime is hard on everyone. It’s hard on the nurse being mandated, the supervisor who does the mandating, and the patients. It’s difficult to give quality care when you are tired,” she said. “It creates a dangerous situation for patients and the nurse,” agreed Donna Rick. “Even the finest nurse is liable to make a faulty judgment after being forced to work 16 hours.” PEF committee member and mental health care nurse Debbie Egel praised the nurses who were there. “We are the heart of the hospital. We are vital. When will we get the respect we deserve and the conditions we need? Sixty-nine thousand nurses are not working in this profession for a reason. Today, I applaud all of you because you are here, fighting for quality and patient care.” |
Nurses’ Mandatory Overtime
Bill Update...Assembly Victory! On June 11, after more than a decade of trying to convince state lawmakers a bill is needed to restrict consecutive hours of required work by nurses, the state Assembly passed the bill to end mandatory overtime.  The bill does not prohibit a nurse from voluntarily working overtime, and has appropriate exceptions for emergencies. “This has been a long fight, but we are pleased the Assembly leadership had the vision to finally pass this bill,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “Our next hurdle is to convince the Senate leadership to follow suit.” The legislative session adjourned _ June 21. The bill (S.6342) made it through some Senate committees, but did not pass. “We will continue to fight for this bill to become law until we win,” PEF President Ken Brynien said.   JOINING THE CAUSE — Sciencia Torchon stands with about two dozen nurses from Rockland PC. It was the first time they attended a rally to end mandatory overtime.  ROCKIN' THE CROWD — Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith gets the crowd cheering. He is flanked by (L) Region 11 Coordinator Jemma Marie-Hanson, nurse Debbie Egel, and Assembly Member Aileen Gunther.      |
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