Three nurses employed at the labor and delivery department of New York's Mount Sinai Hospital were fired for allegedly sabotaging emergency drills that took place in the days leading up to a hospital strike by the New York State Nurses Association. According to a spokesperson for the hospital, Lucia Lee, the three nurses hid medical supplies intended for temporary replacement staff hired during the strike.
Lee claimed the actions of the terminated workers constituted "unacceptable behavior" and posed an undue risk to vulnerable newborn patients. However, the union representing the fired nurses vehemently disputed these allegations, arguing that the firings were part of a broader campaign by hospital management to intimidate and retaliate against striking nurses.
The New York State Nurses Association stated that mounting evidence indicates Mount Sinai's administration is employing tactics amounting to "union busting." The union accused the hospital of prioritizing its financial interests over addressing the legitimate demands of nurses, including improved staffing levels and security measures. The group has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against Mount Sinai at the National Labor Relations Board.
In a statement made during a rally outside the hospital, Liliana Prestia, one of the fired nurses, emphasized that the firings were an attempt to silence and marginalize striking workers but stated she was not intimidated: "We will continue to fight."
Since the strike began on Monday, thousands of nurses have been participating in demonstrations across various hospitals managed by Mount Sinai Health System. The ongoing labor dispute centers around wages, health benefits, and staffing levels. Negotiations between the hospital and union leaders were suspended as part of the strike but are scheduled to resume later this week.
The temporary replacement staff has allowed the affected hospitals to maintain patient care services during the strike; however, some argue that these measures represent an inefficient use of resources and undermine efforts by nurses to achieve improved working conditions.
Lee claimed the actions of the terminated workers constituted "unacceptable behavior" and posed an undue risk to vulnerable newborn patients. However, the union representing the fired nurses vehemently disputed these allegations, arguing that the firings were part of a broader campaign by hospital management to intimidate and retaliate against striking nurses.
The New York State Nurses Association stated that mounting evidence indicates Mount Sinai's administration is employing tactics amounting to "union busting." The union accused the hospital of prioritizing its financial interests over addressing the legitimate demands of nurses, including improved staffing levels and security measures. The group has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against Mount Sinai at the National Labor Relations Board.
In a statement made during a rally outside the hospital, Liliana Prestia, one of the fired nurses, emphasized that the firings were an attempt to silence and marginalize striking workers but stated she was not intimidated: "We will continue to fight."
Since the strike began on Monday, thousands of nurses have been participating in demonstrations across various hospitals managed by Mount Sinai Health System. The ongoing labor dispute centers around wages, health benefits, and staffing levels. Negotiations between the hospital and union leaders were suspended as part of the strike but are scheduled to resume later this week.
The temporary replacement staff has allowed the affected hospitals to maintain patient care services during the strike; however, some argue that these measures represent an inefficient use of resources and undermine efforts by nurses to achieve improved working conditions.
The whole thing seems kinda fishy to me... Like, you'd think a hospital would want to ensure its patients are safe no matter what's going on with the staff. But at the same time, I get why the union is all upset - it sounds like management is trying to strong-arm them into doing things their way. And let's be real, hospitals are already under so much pressure... it's not like they can just ignore the nurses' concerns forever. 
What do you guys think? Should the hospital be more willing to listen to what the nurses want?
I'm really troubled by what's going on at Mount Sinai Hospital. It's like they're more concerned with their bottom line than with taking care of the people who are doing the actual work - the patients. I mean, hiding medical supplies from temporary replacement staff? That's not just unacceptable, it's also super reckless and could have put lives at risk. And now these three nurses are losing their jobs over it? It's like they're being scapegoats for a system that's clearly broken.
. These three nurses were just trying to stand up for themselves and their colleagues, and now they're being thrown under the bus 
. The union is right, this is all about "union busting" 
. I mean, come on, hiding medical supplies? That's not sabotage, that's a last resort when you're fighting for fair wages and better working conditions 
. And the fact that hospital management is denying this and claiming it's all about "unacceptable behavior"... please 
. We need more nurses speaking out against these unfair labor practices 
.
. It sounds like they're really trying to silence the nurses and make an example out of them 
. I'm sure there are tons of people on the nurses' side who feel like the strike is necessary, and it's not just about the money or benefits... it's about having a safe and respectful place to work 
. I mean, have you seen those news vids of the protests outside Mount Sinai? It looks like thousands of people showing up to support the nurses, which is amazing 
. We need more solidarity with these brave women 
. The fact that they're hiding medical supplies meant for strike replacement staff just shows a complete lack of trust in their own employees 
, and it's even more galling that they're prioritizing profits over patient care 
. The fact that thousands of nurses are taking to the streets to fight for fair wages and better working conditions shows just how passionate they are about their job 
. It's time for hospital management to get real and take those demands seriously 
I don't think so. And now they're trying to blame the nurses for their own actions? Come on... 
The union is right, this is all about intimidation and retaliation. It's just not okay. 
. And it's not just that - the union is saying that hospital management is basically trying to bust the union and intimidate workers into staying quiet. That's some serious shady stuff 
.
. They're not going to let intimidation tactics get the best of them!
.