Montefiore, Mt. Sinai and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt nurses join in solidarity radio ad

New York City, Dec.2, 2011 – Thousands of New York’s nurses from some of the city’s biggest and most profitable hospitals are angry at the lack of action from management at their institutions in contract bargaining – and are taking their case to the radio airwaves.

A new 60-second ad is set to run beginning on Monday, Dec.5 on several New York-area stations. It takes Montefiore, Mt. Sinai and St.Luke’s-Roosevelt executives to task for their lack of concern about safe staffing for their patients and affordable health care for the nurses, who are the backbone of the city’s hospitals.

The ad is voiced by Karine Raymond, a working nurse from Montefiore, and professional producer Dani Suzanne Smith.

The ad is part of a coordinated contract campaign by the state Nurses Association to win fair contracts that provide the best possible patient care, affordable health care for nurses and their families, and decent wages.

Nurses at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt have already authorized a strike if no progress halts in their talks; Montefiore and Mt. Sinai will complete strike votes this weekend.

The text of the ad follows:

“NYC is famous for its great hospitals.

But these hospitals can’t function without their thousands of registered nurses – like me, Karine Raymond from Montefiore.

Our employer refuses to increase the number of nurses at the bedside, compromising our ability to give you the care we believe you deserve.

Sadly for patients, hospital executives are acting disgracefully in talks with nurses, even those hospitals are successful and profitable.

It’s shameful that hospitals like mine want to slash our health care coverage, making quality care less affordable for front-line nurses.

But we are standing up for decent benefits for our families, just like we stand up for you, our patients.

Please support me and my co-workers as we defend patients’ rights as well as our own.

This message is brought to you by the registered nurses of Montefiore, Mt. Sinai, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and the rest of the 37,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association…Please stand with us in our fight for fairness and health care.”

Contact: Mark Genovese 518-782-9400, ext. 353