Phelps Hospital nurses, service staff rally to demand contract from Northwell Health

Nancy Cutler and Samantha Antrum, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Updated ·2 min read

SLEEPY HOLLOW ‒ Hundreds of 1199 SEIU union members rallied outside Phelps Hospital on Wednesday to demand that Northwell Health get moving on contract negotiations. Workers said contract talks have stretched out for 18 months.

Phelps, a 238-bed hospital in Westchester County, is part of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider in the state.

“We’re here to fight to make sure we have the resources to be able to provide the care that we want to provide,” said Ross Stephens, a registered nurse who works at Phelps in various critical care departments.

Registered nurses and other workers represented by 1199SEIU rally outside Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow May 1, 2024. The workers there unionized in June 2022 and 18 months later continue to work toward a contract.
Registered nurses and other workers represented by 1199SEIU rally outside Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow May 1, 2024. The workers there unionized in June 2022 and 18 months later continue to work toward a contract.

'No pension? More tension'

1199 members in purple shirts held the informational rally around noon. They marched along the sidewalk, participating in call-and-response messages and holding signs that carried slogans like, "No pension? More tension."

Some 900 Phelps Hospital caregivers joined 1199 SEIU in June 2022. There are two divisions: one represents about 400 registered nurses; the other represents about 500 service staff, including patient care assistants to unit clerks, transporters and more.

Todd Dezen, a Northwell Health spokesman, said Tuesday that the hospital would continue to negotiate in good faith and "continue to provide the excellent care that our patients depend on."

1199 SEIU represents more than 20,000 workers throughout the Northwell system, said Rose Ryan, a spokesperson for the union.

What do workers want?

Workers say they want better benefits, including guaranteed pensions and no-cost family health insurance coverage, similar to what other Northwell workers receive.

“I went through COVID. I was exposed every day to all sorts of different pathogens," Stephens, the critical care nurse, said. "I need to know that I'm going to be protected, and that my family is going to be protected, and that if I bring something home, I can get adequate health care.”

Registered nurses and other workers represented by 1199SEIU rally outside Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow May 1, 2024. The workers there unionized in June 2022 and 18 months later continue to work toward a contract.
Registered nurses and other workers represented by 1199SEIU rally outside Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow May 1, 2024. The workers there unionized in June 2022 and 18 months later continue to work toward a contract.

Anne Green has been a patient care associate at Phelps for 23 years.

"We want to be able to care for our patients the right way," the Mount Vernon resident said during a break from marching in front of the hospital. "But we need management to be there for us."

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Phelps Hospital nurses, service staff rally to demand contract