N.Y. nurses union battles own staff in contract talks

The New York State Nurses Association is battling an unlikely foe at the negotiating table.

The nurses union is in labor talks with its own 16-member professional staff, which includes nurse educators, organizers and PR workers. United Steelworkers represents those staffers, who say they are frustrated with a perceived delay in coming to an agreement. Issues include overtime pay and pay scale. A news release urged the NYSNA to “practice what they preach.” The current contract ends in March 2014, and talks started almost a year ago.

“The staff is willing to work with management to reach a fair agreement that values its employees,” a United Steelworks news release read. “Unionism begins at home.”

NYSNA laid off 17 workers, including 10 professional positions, last year. That didn't sit well with the workers represented by United Steelworkers.

NYSNA defended those layoffs, saying it's increasing its focus on field organizing and research to better communicate its members' agenda.

“These changes are working,” NYSNA spokesman Dan Lutz wrote in an e-mail. “NYSNA's reputation and visibility are on the rise throughout the state. NYSNA nurses are building a powerful movement to win safe staffing, defeat the Wall Street takeover of patient care, and keep hospitals open for care.”

NYSNA represents about 20,000 nurses. Last year, it announced a split from the American Nurses Association. It's considering joining rival union National Nurses United.

Follow Ashok Selvam on Twitter: @MH_aselvam