In response to NYSNA threatening to strike at Albany Medical Center in early December, Albany Medical Center announced plans for “(ensuring) the continuation of quality patient care” after the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) announced its intent to strike from 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1 to 7 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020.
“Albany Med will not abandon its mission to care for our patients and community, and I thank the many colleagues who will choose to work during the day of the strike. As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in our region, our community is relying on us now more than ever,” said Dr. Dennis P McKenna, president and CEO of Albany Med.
“Albany Med has taken all the necessary steps to ensure the continued and uninterrupted operations of the Medical Center during this labor action. We are and have been comprehensively prepared for this event,” McKenna said.
“As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and tertiary care center, with the region’s only children’s hospital and pediatric emergency department, Albany Med plays a critical and unique role in providing care for the three million people of our region. Albany Med will remain open, and we urge every member of our community not to delay care. Albany Med remains here and ready for any of your health care needs. Albany Med is safe for you. Before and through the coronavirus pandemic, Albany Med has made every effort to ensure the safety of our patients and workforce—from adequate supplies of personal protective equipment to necessary staffing levels.”
Albany Med has negotiated in good faith with NYSNA for more than two years in an effort to reach an agreement. Albany Med presented a fair contract to the union; that contract was rejected. The proposal reflected Albany Med’s fundamental principles of safety, fairness, fiscal responsibility and quality. It included a merit plan allowing three percent pay raises for the next three years, a competitive contract for our local market, staffing levels to national benchmarks, and individual choice regarding union membership. Albany Med maintains its position that any agreement must be fair to all employees and to all our nurses, does not place an unfair burden on nurses with lower seniority and does not benefit one part of our organization without consideration for others.
Dr. McKenna was joined by Executive Vice President for System Care Delivery and Hospital General Director Ferdinand J. Venditti, M.D.; Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Frances Spreer Albert; and Interim Chief Nursing Officer Louis Filhour, R.N., Ph.D., who outlined aspects of preparations for the strike.
Dr. Ferdinand Venditti, executive vice president for system care delivery at Albany Med, said that the Emergency Department and trauma services will all remain available 24/7 and fully staffed. Outpatient appointments are largely unaffected, and patients with appointments on the days of the strike are encouraged to keep them. All temporary nurses will follow Albany Med, New York State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols, including the wearing of masks and daily health screening.
Interim Chief Nursing Officer Louis Filhour, Ph.D., RN noted that temporary nurses are uniquely qualified for and capable of providing the level of high-quality care patients deserve.
Filhour said, “These nurses are experienced at coming into new environments and performing at the level Albany Med and our patients expect.”
Spreer Albert explained that our workforce is Albany Med’s most valuable asset. That is why Albany Med is one of few hospitals that has not laid off or furloughed any staff members despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. Albany Med prefers to have its own nurses at the bedside caring for patients but will continue serving our community during the strike. Staff members are encouraged to continue working during the strike; Spreer Albert also said any nurse who wishes to work will be welcomed. The number of temporary nurses will be determined based on staffing needs for the one-day strike. The picket line is expected to remain on public property, such as the sidewalk outside the Medical Center, so as not to obstruct entrance or egress. Patients may access the main building from the 40 New Scotland Ave. parking garage.
“A strike will be a painful experience for Albany Med,” Spreer Albert said. “However, our patients and colleagues must know that our mission continues. Our community needs us, especially as we continue to face the coronavirus pandemic together. A strike will not interfere with patient care and safety. We look forward to resolving our differences fairly. Albany Med remains a partner in the community. It is a role we take most seriously.”
