Nurses Win Union Election at Cayuga Medical Center, Expanding Labor Upsurge in NY Hospitals

An overwhelming 82% of nurses vote in favor of CWA union representation.

ITHACA, N.Y. — Registered nurses at Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) won union representation this afternoon in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The union victory strengthens a surge in labor activism among healthcare workers who are demanding safe staffing levels and fighting back against deteriorating working conditions at hospitals across the state. While 15,000 nurses strike in New York City, nurses upstate echo the same concerns over staffing levels in new organizing drives.

CMC nurses built their union as Cayuga United-CWA, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Nurses voted 82 percent in favor to authorize their union in an NLRB election, overcoming a union-busting campaign run by hired consultants. The nurses will now be able to begin bargaining with management for a union contract that addresses their concerns and improves working conditions.

“The hard work is just starting, but nurses are good at hard work,” said Shane Snyder, In-Patient Wound RN. “We've been delivering quality patient care for years while feeling unsupported and burnt out, and I'm excited to see what we can do with our union behind us. We are tenacious, we are strong, and we are ready to start bargaining our contract.”

“My career as a nurse is something that I’ve always taken such pride in. Now, I have another part of the job to be so proud of,” said Morgan Downing, Cardiac Catheterization RN. “We are laying the groundwork for the generations of nurses to come after us, and we’re already hearing from other medical professionals inspired to join us. I am so excited to have my seat at the table alongside my fellow nurses to start bargaining for our first contract. We are united and ready to continue to advocate for ourselves, our patients, and our community.”

“The overwhelming victory by CMC nurses is a shining example of what healthcare professionals can achieve when they join together with a collective voice,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor. “CMC nurses have overwhelmingly and repeatedly voiced their urgent desire for a union contract, and it is time for management to join us at the bargaining table and get to work improving conditions for nurses and their patients.”

The drive for union recognition at Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) is expanding, as nurses at CMC-affiliated offsite locations join the union movement. Registered nurses at the CMC Cancer Centers and at CMC Surgicare Center have demanded union recognition after supermajorities signed union authorization cards.

Nurses began organizing because of deteriorating conditions that impact both their working conditions and patient care. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have seen increasing short staffing that can leave them caring for an unsustainable number of patients, compromising patient care and worker safety. Cayuga United-CWA represents more than 350 registered nurses at Cayuga Medical Center.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion