(NYACK) -  All Registered Nurses (RNs) at Nyack Hospital on Long Island had been asking for is for from management was to show nurses some respect, so say representatives of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).  But due to a lack of respect, in addition to Unionized Nurses working without a contract since December 31st, NYSNA-represented RNs will express their displeasure with management by holding an informational picket outside the North Highland Avenue hospital on Tuesday, March 9th.

The 520 NYSNA-represented RNs at Nyack Hospital have been trying to negotiate a new contract that will improve its ability to recruit RNs by offering fair salaries, competitive Health Care coverage, and funding to improve their skills, Union officials say.  Their most-recent, four-year contract expired on December 31st, 2009, but hospital management has not engaged in meaningful discussion about all of the nurses' proposals, say NYSNA representatives, who add that before management will agree to discuss any workplace improvement issues, Nyack Hospital has demanded RNs drop their current Health Insurance for a plan that would increase their out-of-pocket expenses and provide less coverage.

"We've been negotiating for five months and we're growing increasingly frustrated over how management is holding contract talks hostage," said RN Anna Marie Perkins, who serves as president of the Nyack Hospital/NYSNA bargaining unit.  To express their displeasure, the RNs will conduct an informational picket on March 9th from 12 Noon to 1:30 p.m.

NYSNA - which represents more than 37,000 members across New York State - believes affordable, comprehensive Health Coverage is a necessity due to the fact that nursing is such a physically-demanding profession, and that RNs place themselves at risk everyday of injury and contracting disease.  The Nyack Hospital nurses want the medical facility to be an attractive employer to new hires, but a weakened health plan will only discourage RN recruitment and retention, NYSNA representatives say.

"We're in a serious nursing shortage and competition is increasing for nurses' services among area hospitals.  Maintaining Nyack's competitiveness is an important part of ensuring that RN staffing remains stable" NYSNA's Perkins said.

NYSNA - The Voice For Nursing In The Empire State - is the state's largest Union and professional association for RNs.  NYSNA supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy and collective bargaining.