Nurses at Cayuga Medical Center Fight for Their Union

Nurses at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, NY, have bravely stood up, in the face of a tense anti-union atmosphere by their employer, to declare their intent to organize a union with CWA! On December 3rd the group of over 350 nurses publicly announced their union, and have been standing strong ever since while the hospital has ramped up their attempts at union-busting.

Just one week later on December 8, the workers were forced to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the hospital for holding illegal, anti-union captive audience meetings. In the weeks since, workers have taken a stand against these meetings and even co-opted them to question the hospital administration’s attempts at union-busting and share info about the benefits of unionizing.

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“By holding captive audience, anti-union meetings, Cayuga Medical Center has not respected the right of its nurses to freely organize,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor. “CMC nurses are the heart of the Ithaca community and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect when they speak out to improve working conditions.”

Despite employer opposition, the nurses remain determined to win their union and to keep fighting to improve working conditions in the hospital and safe staffing levels!