New York Nurses Secure Huge Gains for Patient Safety with Mandatory Overtime Victory

After six years of campaigning, 1199SEIU registered nurses in New York can take credit for an enormous victory for their patients and themselves. Both the State Senate and Assemby have passed a new law—which the Governor has agreed to sign--banning mandatory overtime for nurses, to take effect in 2009.

Passage of this law brings New York State into line with 14 other states that have taken action to address the public safety threat posed by mandatory overtime. Mandatory overtime has also been identified as a major cause of the exodus of nurses from the profession further exacerbating the current nursing shortage crisis. 

Debra Friedland, RN, an 1199SEIU Delegate, said, "It’s easy to see how nurses would leave a profession if they never know when they will be able to get home to their families. Additionally, it is unsafe to care for patients if you have to work 16 or 20 hours, and no nurse wants to be the cause of an error."

1199SEIU led a coalition of several nurse unions and nurse associations that lobbied the legislature in Albany. The New York State law will cover direct care registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in a wide array of healthcare settings, including public and private hospitals, nursing homes, the Office of Mental Health Facilities, and Department of Corrections facilities.

"As RNs, we have been enthusiastically supported by our entire union and its 300,000 members. Legislators never forget that when we show up in Albany, we don’t come as single nurses or even as a group of nurses. An 1199SEIU RN shows up in the political arena with an army behind her or him." - Norma Amsterdam, RN 1199SEIU Executive Vice President for RNs