Nurses tell lawmakers to ‘have a heart’

By DEBORAH A. MILES 
In a continuing fight to pressure lawmakers to pass legislation for safe staffing levels and to abolish mandatory overtime, PEF nurses across the state banned together and started their lobby efforts in a unique way. They each sent a special valentine card to their Assembly member and senator.

Nearly 5,000 PEF nurses participated in the valentine card campaign, calling on legislators to ‘have a heart’ and pass the laws.

“All the nursing staff here mailed the cards,” said Michele Falkowski, a nurse 3 at Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center.

“If enough nurses mailed the cards, lawmakers would get the message. You have to get involved with your legislators,” Falkowski said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think nurses get active enough. If we don’t get out there and have our voice heard, we will suffer.”

Bertie Schrader, an employee health nurse at Central NY Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO), said sending the valentine was an easy way for nurses to get noticed. 
“PEF is really trying to push the legislation. It’s a tough battle,” she said. “I hope laws will be passed or changed by the time the next contract is being negotiated.”

The valentine card campaign is just the first step in the nurses’ lobbying plan. 

PEF nurses will join other nurses from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU 1199) and the New York State United Teachers in a second annual joint Lobby Day on Monday, May 16. The plan is to storm the steps of the Capital with a rally and meet with individual lawmakers. 

Cathy Maloy, a community mental health nurse at Herkimer DDSO, said the nurses at her facility are supportive of the lobbying plans.

“We realize safety with nurses saves lives,” she said. “The general public doesn’t need sloppy nursing and our lawmakers need to know that. Would they like to have a nurse attending to them after a double shift?”

For more information on Lobby Day, contact the PEF nurse organizer at 1-800-342-4306, ext. 344 or visit the PEF Web site at www.pef.org and click on “Nurses.”