Nurses from more than a half dozen area hospitals participated in the lively rally. Speakers included representatives of the Public Employees Federation, the Civil Service Employees Association, the United Food and Commercial Workers union, and the Long Island Federation of Labor. Suffolk County legislature member Bill Lindsay and U.S. Congressman Steven Israel also spoke.

The nurses are demanding enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios in each department, an end to mandatory overtime, improved and stable health insurance, including for retired nurses, and guaranteed shift schedules.

Student nurses at Suffolk County Community College nursing school have refused to cross the picket line for their clinical rotations. They will work at another area hospital instead. According to the union, only two nurses have gone back to work. They joined about 100 nurses that management has hired to replace the strikers. "Some people say nurses have to take any job they're offered," striker Lois Booth noted. "But I think nurses should support nurses. It's a matter of principle." At least one local hotel, the Windham Watch, has refused to house the scabs.

The striking nurses have established a daily fact sheet called "On the Line." It is e-mailed to all the strikers and is also available on the picket line. Weekly meetings for the union membership are held each Tuesday. "The newsletters and meetings are important to keep everyone informed," striker Diane Rettig explained.

The nurses do not have strike benefits and will not be eligible for unemployment benefits for eight weeks. "But I won't vote for a bad contract because I'm hungry," Rettig said. "I work too hard for that. And I'm not going to settle for a crumb on the table. I want the whole sandwich."

A candlelight celebration in support of the strike is planned for December 7. For more information call the strike hotline at (800) 724-NYRN or check out their web site at www.nysna.org.  
 
 
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