Hours later, Albany Med leadership outlined plans to ensure patient care during the one-day strike, including hiring temporary nurses and they encouraged all patients to keep their appointments, reminding the public they are open, safe and ready to continue fighting coronavirus.
President and CEO Dennis McKenna stated, "Let me assure you Albany Med is prepared, we will continue to care for our patients safely and without interruption. Albany Med has been dedicated to patient care, research and education since its founding and we will not abandon our mission."
McKenna adding the hospital "has made every effort to ensure the safety of our patients and workforce-from adequate supplies of personal protective equipment to necessary staffing levels."
McKenna says they had not had layoffs or furloughs.
"A strike is always by definition disruptive to a medical mission, but a strike in the middle of a pandemic for baseless reasons is totally irresponsible," added McKenna.
McKenna said NYSNA nurses have "exploited" the pandemic, but he considers the hospital's 2,000 nurses critical partners in the mission and dedication of their workforce especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Since the beginning, Albany Medical Center has negotiated in good faith with the union. That continues today. We've held 74 bargaining sessions with NYSNA, and we've reached 80 tentative agreements. While we were very hopeful we would avert a strike, we must first agree to a contract that's fair to all of our nurses and all our employees and is centered on patient care."
McKenna said the vote to strike was rushed, and some nurses did not get to vote. "The contract we've put in front of NYSNA involves safety, fairness and fiscal responsibility and quality, and it will not jeopardize our mission."
As the pandemic continues to surge, hospital leadership says they continue following CDC guidelines and if masks are re-used, they are cleaned with ultraviolet light or aerosolized hydrogen peroxide.
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Albany Med outlines plans for Dec. 1 nursing strike - WNYT
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