Registered nurses at an Ithaca hospital announced their plans to unionize with the Communication Workers of America last week.

In a statement, Cayuga United said over 70% of Cayuga Medical nurses have signed union authorization cards.

Heather Bretz is a nurse at the hospital and is involved in union organizing.

“If we can better retain experienced, dedicated nurses and pay them a competitive wage and good benefits, we'll be doing a lot towards meeting that goal of better serving our patients,” Bretz told WSKG.

Read the rest here.

I remember being a surgical patient at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 2000 and the Nurses were unionized. It was contract time and what I remember was the staff was more concerned with the contract negotiations than patient care. I had complications that required a second surgery and the problem was no one paid attention to me when I kept telling them something was wrong. After the second surgery it was suggested I should sue my Dr. That was a big no, if had been inclined to sue, it would have been the staff.

I understand why Nurses want to unionize today with shortages, patient ratios, and other safety working conditions. That certainly wasn’t the issue in 2000 and the Nurses then didn’t have to deal with what today’s Nurses deal with. I wish them luck.

1 hour ago, Elmira Telegram said:

Read the rest here.

This text doesn't seem to have a link, so I found the article HERE

I'm a bit confused on the process.

The union is asking hospital management for voluntary recognition, which would mean the nurses wouldn’t need to hold an election to finish establishing the union and start bargaining their first contract.

However, when reached for comment, a hospital representative did not say that Cayuga Medical Center would provide that recognition. Instead, they said Cayuga Medical Center respected nurses' rights to hold a vote on unionization.

So 70% signed cards to hold a vote, but it's not officially recognized unless/until it passes in a vote?

Also....this seems to be specific to "Cayuga Medical Center" not the entire "Cayuga Health System" that encompasses several facilities (including Arnot and its locations, etc).

So....only those nurses working at that single facility are voting to unionize? That sort of seems like an HR cluster-F#@K

Edited December 9, 2025Dec 9 by MsKreed

Here’s the link - https://www.wskg.org/regional-news/2025-12-08/cayuga-medical-center-nurses-are-unionizing-pushing-for-hospital-recognition

1 hour ago, MsKreed said:

That sort of seems like an HR cluster-F#@K

Especially given that the CWA is the union for some non-nursing positions at Arnot.

Yea, I thought it was all centralized now under Centralus Health or something like that. I believe the Arnot nurses have always been union but can't swear to that.

6 hours ago, MsKreed said:

So 70% signed cards to hold a vote, but it's not officially recognized unless/until it passes in a vote?

Thats the way it worked back in the day . We had a Nursing staff that wanted to unionize and have us represent them , they had a great turnout on the petition ! But when it came to the Actual Vote they were way off the required majority. I was a union representative for 20 years and the only ones who ever “ made out “ were the ones that wouldn’t carry their share of the load or were constantly calling off . There was a saying “ The only ones that Want a Union are the ones that Need a Union “ . Then theres the Dues … 🤦‍♂️, be interesting to see this play out ! And also , you are spot on as to this causing a Charlie Foxtrot with and between the other Affiliates of Centralus Health .

24 minutes ago, Hal said:

Thats the way it worked back in the day . We had a Nursing staff that wanted to unionize and have us represent them , they had a great turnout on the petition ! But when it came to the Actual Vote they were way off the required majority.

Thanks for the clarification.  The article’s characterization that 70% had “signed union authorization cards” sounded like they were on record of supporting it (he word "authorization" sounds like it indicates "support").....your explanation that the cards amount to a petition makes more sense.

24 minutes ago, Hal said:

There was a saying “ The only ones that Want a Union are the ones that Need a Union “ .

Having worked years for the state where union membership was required.....I've seen plenty of truth in that adage!

Edited December 10, 2025Dec 10 by MsKreed

6 hours ago, KarenK said:

I believe the Arnot nurses have always been union but can't swear to that.

Not that we’re aware of. When I was there it was EMAs/ CNA’s, housekeeping, maintenance and those types of positions but not nurses.

St.Joes nurses were union at one time, but it’s all Arnot now so I don’t believe they are anymore.

6 hours ago, KarenK said:

Yea, I thought it was all centralized now under Centralus Health or something like that. I believe the Arnot nurses have always been union but can't swear to that.

last i knew, there was not a Nursing Union at the Arnot, CNA's do though

1 hour ago, MsKreed said:

The article’s characterization that 70% had “signed union authorization cards” sounded like they were on record of supporting it (he word "authorization" sounds like it indicates "support")..

think of it as " likely voters" versus "actual voters" many wil say they support a thing but disappear when time comes for that support to actually count

The Communication Workers of America (CWA) union has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against an Ithaca hospital.

Nurses at Cayuga Medical Center announced their plans to unionize last week.

A statement from the CWA said hospital management read an anti-union message during a mandatory meeting last Friday, and that employees were reprimanded for speaking up in support of the union.

“By holding captive audience, anti-union meetings, Cayuga Medical Center has not respected the right of its nurses to freely organize,” CWA District Vice President Dennis Trainor said in a statement.

In a statement, a hospital representative said they would not comment on the allegations because of pending action with the NLRB.

Source

As difficult as it seems to Organize , wait until these folks get tired of the bullshit they will deal with being Unionized ! Once in they will find its not all the District Representatives make it out to be … Think it through Nurses !!

Edited December 12, 2025Dec 12 by Hal

28 minutes ago, Hal said:

As difficult as it seems to Organize , wait until these folks get tired of the bullshit they will deal with being Unionized ! Once in they will find its not all the District Representatives make it out to be … Think it through Nurses !!

Yeah I have to admit that my views have changed on unions ( for the better ) over the past few years, but if these folks think it's going to be sunshine and rainbows a day after the contract is approved they have another thing coming. A union is only going to do you so much good, especially in the health care field.

I remember when St. Joe's went union, a friend of mine who was all gung-ho about them being union, found herself out of a job shortly after. Not that she was a bad nurse, she was a great one, but when push came to shove, she got shoved onto her ass.

I do hope these Nurses have done their homework on this subject and all that is involved therein . If not they will soon find its not just a “ protection club “ … oh Hell No ! Theres not enough space on this thread to explain what they face once they open the doors to Unionize !!

I'm not a union supporter. I feel like they did what they had to do when they needed to but all these years later they are all about themselves and making themselves money. The dues are ridiculous with some of them.

You might get a good pension and annuity if you live to retire but if you get a good financial planner, you will also get a good pension and annuity when you retire.

11 minutes ago, KarenK said:

I'm not a union supporter. I feel like they did what they had to do when they needed to but all these years later they are all about themselves and making themselves money.

I once felt that way, even as a union member. But I can also say from personal experience, they definitely serve a purpose still. I wouldn't have gotten a LOT of backpay ( we're talking years worth ) I was owed due to a payroll error otherwise. Though I have to also credit the administration for that as well. We wouldn't have the pay or the benefits we have without a union representing us. So the union, namely my representatives, has definitely done a lot in the past year or two to sway my opinion.

15 minutes ago, KarenK said:

The dues are ridiculous with some of them.

If the nurses dues are going to be anything like ours, they'll be based on salary. Knowing what I know about how much an RN can make, they're in for a shocker. The good news is it's a tax write-off though.

33 minutes ago, Chris said:

If the nurses dues are going to be anything like ours, they'll be based on salary.

They refer to them as “ Weighted Dues “ , and yes based on your hourly or salaried income . Another reason for them to look at Everything not just kick the tires ! Now , don’t get me wrong , as Chris unions Can be a good thing I for one learned a lot from my experience and enjoyed some success, actually quit a few looking back ! Hell I would rather spend a couple days in Arbitration saving someone from termination than at the Plant slinging iron !

A crowd of nurses and their supporters erupted into applause Tuesday night after the Tompkins County Legislature voted unanimously to pass a resolution supporting Cayuga Medical Center nurses’ efforts to unionize.

The move comes about a month after nurses announced their intention to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Over 70 percent of nurses signed union cards, according to the organization. Cayuga Medical Center did not voluntarily recognize the union. Now, nurses will vote on whether or not to officially unionize next week.

Source

If unionizing helps Nurses with Nurse to Patient ratio that will be a good thing. My Niece, who is a RN, recently worked a shift where it was 3 Nurses for 22 patients.

From healthcare networks to colleges and universities.....most large "non-profits" are more exploitive corporate structures than a lot of evil for profit corporations.

If there is a hell....I hope there’s a special place there for those who are granted a free passes for abuse, greed and exploitation disguised in their ‘non-profit’ cloaks of immunity. 

They aren’t charitable....they run as highly competitive commercial businesses that charge for their services. Then they aggressively seek collections for unpaid balances for the patients they “serve” through their “non-profit” enterprise....to the tune of medical bills accounting for more bankruptcy than anything else. 

Meanwhile, their executives are richly compensated while many in their rank and file are underpaid, overworked, and frequently need to rely on tax-subsidized “low-income’ programs.  Taxes that the organization is exempt from.

Until they change the definitions/criteria of "non-profit"....the very least that schools and municipal officials in their host communities should do is negotiate for payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) arrangements.

1 hour ago, Ann said:

If unionizing helps Nurses with Nurse to Patient ratio that will be a good thing. My Niece, who is a RN, recently worked a shift where it was 3 Nurses for 22 patients.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

On 1/11/2026 at 9:04 AM, Ann said:

If unionizing helps Nurses with Nurse to Patient ratio that will be a good thing. My Niece, who is a RN, recently worked a shift where it was 3 Nurses for 22 patients.

problem is, nursing has a large lobby presence in, at least Albany, if not at the National level, and for the last 20 years patient ratios have not improved.....but membership levels and dues have

On 1/12/2026 at 10:04 PM, ADAM said:

problem is, nursing has a large lobby presence in, at least Albany, if not at the National level, and for the last 20 years patient ratios have not improved.....but membership levels and dues have

Aaaand … there it is ! Unions in a manufacturing settings are a helluva lot different in the Nursing setting . Nothing about unionization is going to help patient ratios , the only ones to benefit from a closed shop , i hate to have to say this , are , let me call them , sub par employees and the union leaders in the upper positions not the Local Representatives !

Edited January 14Jan 14 by Hal

I believe the NYC nurses unions are all on strike right now.