ALBANY NURSES UNIONIZE AFTER 18-YEAR EFFORT
ALBANY — After 18 years of trying, nurses at Albany’s largest hospital have overwhelming voted to unionize. The vote will affect at least 2,200 nurses at Albany Medical Center, who will now be represented by the New York State Nurses Association. It is the fourth time time since 2000 the nurses tried to organize. The last time was in 2003. Calling New York a union state, Gov. Cuomo, who last month ordered an investigation into allegations of threats and coercion against the nurses heading into the vote, offered his congratulations Saturday. “At a time when organized labor is under attack across the country, I stand shoulder to shoulder with our union brothers and sisters and all those seeking to organize,” Cuomo said. The vote came as the hospital’s nurses have been seeking a say in wages, benefits and staffing decisions. “We look forward to Albany Medical Center coming to the table as soon as possible to begin contract negotiations,” the union said. Albany Medical Center President and CEO James Barba praised his nursing staff. “We pledge to continue delivering the highest quality of care in the region and maintaining an open dialogue with our nurses and all of our employees on how to best provide care in the ever-changing health care environment,” Barba said.