New York State Nurses Association <http://www.nysna.org/news/press/050208.htm>
For Immediate Release 1199/SEIU tries to raid NYSNA unit
FAR ROCKWAY, NY, May 2, 2008 — 1199/SEIU has filed a petition to decertify the New York State Nurses Association as the collective bargaining agent for registered nurses at Peninsula Hospital.
This is the first attempted "raid" at a NYSNA facility in nearly a decade, and follows New York's disaffiliation (along with seven other states) from the United American Nurses, in part because of its opposition to a proposed alliance between UAN and SEIU.
"What they were unable to achieve by stealth, they are now trying to get by force," said Lorraine Seidel, RN, director of the Nurses Association's collective bargaining program. "There are thousands of nurses in New York who don't belong to any union. Instead of organizing them, 1199/SEIU is seeking to add to its ranks by poaching members from others in the house of labor."
The nurses at Peninsula are in the midst of an intense contract negotiation – their most recent agreement expired on April 30. The RNs held an informational picket today to protest the lack of a contract. Raider unions often will use this period to exploit the economic concerns of bargaining unit members.
"We believe most of our members understand that they are better served by an all-RN union," said Seidel. "Unfortunately, defending against raids consumes valuable resources that could be spent on serving members and organizing new units."
The Nurses Association represents registered nurses – and only registered nurses – at 77 hospitals and healthcare facilities in the New York metro area. 1199/SEIU has just 15 bargaining units with registered nurses and other types of workers.
With more than 36,000 members, the New York State Nurses Association is the nation's oldest and largest state nurses' association. NYSNA fosters high standards of nursing education, research, and practice; engages in legislative activity; and provides collective bargaining services to registered nurses. Its mission is to advance the profession of nursing and protect the public's health.