Nurses union: Lockout continues at New Rochelle Montefiore despite full patient workload

For the second day in a row, only a limited number of New Rochelle Montefiore Hospital nurses were called into work Friday, despite the hospital having what the nurses union said was a typical patient workload. 

In the first 24 hours of what the union is calling a lock out, there were 67 patients in the emergency department, including 13 patients who were admitted to the hospital, according to the union. Yet, only nine nurses were working, when typically there would be 12 to 15 nurses working, the union said.

About 200 nurses affiliated with the New York State Nurses Association went on strike Tuesday and Wednesday over stalled negotiations for a new contract before seeking to return to work Thursday.

The union said that the hospital's calling of a small, select number of nurses into work is retaliation for the strike.

THURSDAY: Nurses charge they are locked out at Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital in "retaliation."

FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Nurses strike conjures images of bruising Nyack Hospital action

Emergency Room nurse Raymond Roldan said he was scheduled to work Thursday and Friday, but the hospital's human resources department told him not to come in until further notice. 

"I’m hearing from the emergency room nurses that patients are no longer being diverted away from the emergency, and we have a regular volume of patients," Roldan said in a statement. "Nurses are running around without breaks and hoping there are no accidents or cardiac arrests today. Managers have refused to call in more nurses to help. It’s this kind of cutting corners that compromises patient care.” 

Montefiore officials reiterated Thursday's statement, saying its return-to-work policy was "clearly outlined in a letter delivered to MNR nurses and NYSNA leadership on Friday."

"Once the strike has ended, nurses should anticipate returning to work immediately in those units that remained operational," Montefiore said in Thursday's statement. "However, the return to work of nurses in those units that were decanted, may be delayed due to the lack of admitted patients. These nurses will be recalled as soon as the volume increases in their units.  All nurses will be notified individually to return to work." 

The union said it was concerned about the closure of the hospital's fifth floor, which was designated for COVID-19 patients. It said in a statement that COVID and non-COVID patients were being treated on the same floor. 

While preparing for the strike, Montefiore transferred some patients out of the hospital.

Nurses have been negotiating a new contract with Montefiore New Rochelle for two years. 

To date, no further negotiation dates have been set. 

Christopher J. Eberhart covers breaking news. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisEberhart2.