An overwhelming majority of NYSNA nurses at Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) – Wynn Hospital voted to ratify a contract that ensures safe staffing, and improves wages and benefits to help recruit and retain nurses
Utica, N.Y.— On March 26, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses at Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) – Wynn Hospital voted overwhelmingly to ratify a three-year contract that includes stronger safe staffing enforcement and break coverage to ensure safe staffing at all times, wage increases, and reduced costs for health insurance.
Sheila Conley, RN, ICU nurse and local union president said, “We are confident that the staffing improvements, along with important wage increases and lowered insurance costs, will help MVHS-Wynn Hospital recruit and retain nurses to ensure that Utica patients receive the best care possible. Nurses are pleased that we were able to work with management on a contract that represents a good start to addressing the needs of patients and making this hospital the resource it should be for our community.”
This is the first contract agreement for NYSNA nurses at Wynn since the hospital moved to its new location over a year ago, and nurses from the former MVHS-St. Elizabeth Medical Center and MVHS-Faxton St. Luke’s merged into one union – NYSNA. Since it moved to its new downtown location, the hospital has had staffing issues. This new agreement includes across-the-board raises between 13.9%-21% with retroactive pay to Jan. 1, 2025, over the life of the contract, plus pay increases to retain highly-trained and experienced nurses. For the first time, nurses will be able to appeal staffing violations to a third party mediator if the employer continues to violate agreed upon staffing plans.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said, “NYSNA nurses always want the best for patient care, and they spoke out for months for what this community needed. Together nurses at Wynn achieved a contract that will ensure that Wynn can meet the moment and patient demands.”
Nurses at Wynn hospital had been fighting for a contract since the fall. Nurses at Oneida Health Hospital continue to demand management return to the table and bargain a fair contract.
The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country’s largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.
