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   Vol.66/No.9            March 4, 2002 
 
 
March of 1,000 backs striking nurses in New York
 
BY SUSAN ARMSTRONG
SMITHTOWN, New York--Striking nurses here mobilized 1,000 people in a spirited march and rally February 16, their 83rd day on the picket lines. Nurses from all over the New York area took part, as well as a broad array of union locals.

The walkout by the 475 nurses is directed at St. Catherine's of Siena Medical Center and the main unresolved issue is mandatory overtime. Nurses say they are often forced to work 16 hours straight if the bosses have not scheduled another nurse for the second shift. They demand contract language to restrict overtime and to institute double-time pay as an economic disincentive for the hospital to impose forced overtime.

The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) float, serving as the rally stage, was hung with signs demanding "No forced O.T.," "Patient Safety," and "Safe Care #1." Most strikers wore red NYSNA sweatshirts.

Winnie Kennedy, a registered nurse (RN) at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, came to back the strikers. "You should not be a prisoner in the hospital," she said. "You can't go to work every day and not know when you'll return."

John Franzese, a teacher for 30 years and a member of United Federation of Teachers Local 2 in New York City, said, "This is a cause. Hospitals should not use mandatory overtime to staff hospitals." His wife, a nurse for 30 years, is on strike.

Katherine Stovall, an RN at New Island Hospital in Bethpage, explained, "Their win would be for all nurses. We love our work, but we have a right to a life."

Concern for patient care is central to the nurses' fight against forced overtime. "Think if it were your loved one in that bed," striker Theresa Floccari said, "and the nurse administering lifesaving medication was working 16 hours."

Erin Laden, president of this year's RN class at Suffolk Community College, came to the rally together with 14 nursing students and professors. "We see going into our clinicals how mandatory overtime will affect us," Laden said. "It's not safe for patient care. That's why you get into nursing, because you care about the patients."

The bosses at the hospital say they have to schedule overtime because of a shortage of nurses. Striker Ellen Florio, a nurse for 37 years, said, referring to the hospital's hiring of replacement nurses during the strike: "If they can bring 100 nurses in to staff while we're not there, they can do it when we are there."

Nurses reported that in March 2000 the current owners bought out the hospital. Employees lost thousands of dollars in accrued personal and vacation time, as well as overtime incentives, in the deal. "We gave back, gave back, gave back," said striker Diane Shalhoub.

"Every day of the strike brings a new challenge and we get more respect," said nurse Maryann DeNappoli. "This strike gives us a sense of independence," said another striker.

Six members of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees who are on strike at the Flex-O-Tex Laundry in the Bronx came to the march. Elsa Perez said, "It's a help for all of us to support each other." Juana Gonzales captured the mood of the action, saying, "This rally is beautiful. The people are very happy. Mucha gente!" The UNITE strikers were recognized at the rally by Barbara Crane, president of the NYSNA at St. Catherine.

Musicians from Local 802 added to the spirit of the day with both union and popular songs such as "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and the Banana Boat Song, with its refrain, "Day-o, day-o, daylight come and I wan' go home."

Among the unions represented at the march were the United Food and Commercial Workers; United Auto Workers; United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; Laborers' International Union; Motion Picture Workers; American Postal Workers, National Maritime Union; Sheet Metal Workers and Painters; and State County and Municipal Employees.

Anne Converso, a nurse for 29 years at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Buffalo, presented a check for $10,000 from the United American Nurses. "Every nurse I come in contact with is proud of you," she said. Ending the rally, NYSNA official Lorraine Seidel said that the strike is "not just about ending mandatory overtime, but about quality of life for you and your patients."  
 
 
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