Cayuga Nurses Overcome Opposition To Join CWA

Last week, 350 registered nurses at Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) won union representation in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). They are now represented by CWA Local 1111. The union victory strengthens a surge in labor activism among healthcare workers who are demanding safe staffing levels and fighting back against deteriorating working conditions at hospitals across the state.

Fed up with unsafe staffing levels, low pay, rampant turnover, and problems stemming from a recent merger, nurses banded together and took ownership of the campaign. They fought an anti-union consulting firm and won by taking over captive audience meetings, being public in their union support, and mobilizing the community. The organizing committee stood strong for their union in the face of a hard boss fight. The nurses will now be able to begin bargaining with management for a union contract that addresses their concerns and improves working conditions.

“The overwhelming victory by CMC nurses is a shining example of what healthcare professionals can achieve when they join together with a collective voice,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor. “CMC nurses have overwhelmingly and repeatedly voiced their urgent desire for a union contract, and it is time for management to join us at the bargaining table and get to work improving conditions for nurses and their patients.”

Nurses began organizing because of worsening conditions that impact both their working environment and patient care. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have seen increasing short staffing that can leave them caring for an unsustainable number of patients—compromising patient care and worker safety, and contributing to high turnover

This win came just days after 15,000 healthcare workers across New York State went on strike for similar concerns: improved staffing levels, workplace safety, and dignity on the job. CWA members in District 1 stood in solidarity with the New York State Nurses Association strikers who have been on the picket line since January 12. Click here to read a statement of solidarity from CWA District 1.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.