Deadline looms as nurses across New York City prepare to strike
"We are worried. We don't want to take this long and drag out, but we want to have a safe contract," said Vivienne Phillips.
Nurses at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center gathered Tuesday to speak exclusively with News 12 about their contract demands as the zero hour for a strike looms.
Last week, nurses at 12 New York City hospitals voted overwhelmingly to authorize strikes. Five of them are in Brooklyn – Maimonides, Interfaith Medical Center, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center.
Their five demands from the hospitals include fair wages, more staffing, protection from workplace violence and better medical coverage for both staff and patients.
"We are worried. We don't want to take this long and drag out, but we want to have a safe contract," said Vivienne Phillips.
Nurses expressed they want to avoid a strike so they can continue caring for their patients. The handful of nurses yelled chants like "Union busting is disgusting" and "Safe staffing saves lives."
"When the patients have to wait long for services, they get upset and that's where you get in an increase in violent episodes," Phillips explained.
"All we're asking for is a fair contract. Can we keep our health benefits? Can we have our pension?" questioned Judy Johnson.
News 12 reached out to One Brooklyn Health System about the negotiations but they declined to comment.
For now, nurses citywide are remaining hopeful for new changes in the new year.
"We are asking the hospitals to commit on our health benefits. We need a health benefit because a healthy nurse takes care of a healthy patient. And when we have a healthy patient, we're going to have a healthy community," said Moma
