State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblyman Matt Slater joined the picket
After over a year of bargaining, nurses continue to demand Northwell settle a contract that includes enforceable safe staffing standards
Approximately 100 nurses and allies march outside the hospital to demand a fair contract for nurses and patients
New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses from Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital held an informational picket today to demand a fair union contract that includes enforceable safe staffing standards. Nurses’ previous contract expired on Dec. 31, 2025, and for over a year, they have been bargaining for a new contract that would protect quality patient care in Putnam County. Northwell administrators, on the other hand, have submitted staffing plans to the New York State Department of Health that include nurse-to-patient ratios that would make it harder for nurses to deliver the level of care that Putnam County residents deserve.
Approximately 100 nurses and allies came out for an informational picket in front of the hospital. They marched and chanted with signs and spoke out for safe staffing and a fair contract. The media has permission to use photos and videos posted on www.facebook.com/nynurses.
Northwell has repeatedly ignored nurses’ input in establishing and maintaining staffing guidelines that ensure safe staffing and better patient outcomes. They also refuse to include any language in the contract that would allow nurses to hold hospital administrators accountable when units are understaffed. Nurses say that as the largest private employer in New York, and one of the wealthiest healthcare systems, Northwell Health can afford to staff the hospital safely and include enforceable staffing standards for Putnam Hospital in writing.
At the same time, Northwell is pursuing Magnet Accreditation at Putnam. Magnet Accreditation is the highest credential a hospital can receive for nursing excellence and quality patient care. In light of Northwell’s refusal to settle a fair contract that addresses chronic understaffing at the hospital, NYSNA nurses do not support the application for Magnet status and began a boycott of the hospital-driven Nursing Council in August.
Medical-surgical nurse Coral Palmer, RN, said: “Northwell is putting its nurses in an impossible situation. Every day, short staffing makes it more and more difficult to provide the safe, quality care our patients deserve. It’s time for Northwell to start taking nurses and our calls for safe staffing and quality patient care seriously. The people of this community deserve better than a hospital that only cares about generating revenue.”
Northwell acquired Putnam Hospital, and several other hospitals, in 2025 as part of a merger with Danbury, CT-based Nuvance Health. A report released by the state of Connecticut in advance of the merger, details the impact Northwell has on healthcare prices in communities where it has acquired hospitals: “Northwell’s four most recent hospital acquisitions (all in New York) show signs of considerable price increases post-acquisition. Price data obtained from Northwell for Mather Hospital shows that commercial inpatient hospital prices increased by 70% on average between 2017 (the year prior to Northwell acquiring Mather) and 2023 across the hospital’s top 30 discharges by commercial revenue.”
Despite making an excess of revenue over expenses—approximately $252 million for the entire Northwell system for the first half of 2026—Northwell has undertaken three rounds of layoffs since October 2025. Northwell has not clarified how many people have been laid off, where they worked, what jobs are being affected, or whether more layoffs are planned. Historically, Northwell executives are highly paid—former CEO Michael Dowling made $5.8 million in 2024, and 14 other employees made over $1 million in salaries, benefits and perks. It is unclear if executives have been laid off or had their outrageous executive compensation cut.
Local bargaining unit president Nicole Cadella, RN, said: “Northwell is one of the wealthiest healthcare systems in New York. They continue to buy community hospitals to expand their footprint, but they need to invest in those hospitals and maintain the level of care patients are used to. We will not allow them to take over our hospital, over-work our nurses and drive-up costs for patients. They should be working with us to provide the resources, staffing and care that our community needs.”
In recent months, nurses have been escalating their campaign for a fair contract. In October, they held a virtual town-hall meeting with community members in October to shed light on ongoing staffing issues at the hospital and Northwell’s pattern of prioritizing profits over patient care. Nurses held a speak-out outside the hospital in June, and delivered a petition in the fall, signed by more than 1000 community members calling on Northwell to settle a fair contract.
Last week, NYSNA nurses launched a digital action calling on staff, patients and community members to email President Derek Anderson, to demand Northwell show its commitment to the Putnam community by settling a fair contract now.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “Nurses are healthcare defenders, and I am so proud of all the Northwell Health/ Putnam Hospital nurses who came out today to walk the informational picket line and make their voices heard. Northwell, the state’s largest private employer, should never cut corners when it comes to patient safety. Our nurses sent a strong message that safe staffing saves lives, and they will not stop until they win a fair contract with enforceable safe staffing standards.”
Assembly Member Dana Levenberg said: “I absolutely stand with you in the fight for a fair contract. Nurses are essential to the functioning of our hospitals, and your working conditions are the healing conditions of the patients of this hospital. You deserve a contract that delivers safe staffing ratios, ensuring the safety of patients and staff alike. It is only right for Northwell to come to the negotiating table in good faith and put the safety of Putnam County residents first, and I implore them to do so. I applaud your resolve and courage to stand up for what is right, and I again urge Northwell to do the right thing and agree to a contract that prioritizes patients over profits.”
“Today I stand in solidarity with the 200 nurses at Northwell Health’s Putnam Hospital as they fight for a new union contract that ensures safe, quality care for their patients. Watching my sister serve as a nurse, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication the job requires. Our nurses are on the frontlines of keeping our communities safe and healthy, and we must ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver world-class care. In Congress, I will always fight for fair contracts, safe staffing ratios, and conditions that put patients over profits,” said Congressmember-elect Cait Conley.
State Senator-elect Lisa Kaul said: “Our nurses provide critical care when we are at our most vulnerable. They deserve work conditions that both enable them to provide this care and ensure their safety. Forcing
nurses to provide care for more patients than safe staffing ratios allow puts patient outcomes at risk, puts nurses in dangerous situations, and leads to professional burnout. Quite simply, a hospital cannot fulfill its mission of providing safe, high-quality care without adequate and safe nurse staffing. I call on Northwell to work with its nurses and reach a fair contract that adheres to legally required safe staffing standards that are enforceable, protects patients and gives nurses the work conditions they are owed and deserve.”