Seven years ago, two Federation of Nurses/UFT members who responded to the union’s appeal for medical volunteers, helped in the relief effort in the Philippines after a devastating typhoon. 

Federation of Nurses/UFT members and school nurses in November attended the UFT’s 41st annual Professional Issues Conference, held virtually for the first time.

UFT hospital nurses find strength in each other and in their union on the front lines of the coronavirus battle.

When the UFT negotiated its 2018 contract with the city Department of Education, it followed the strategy used by the Federation of Nurses/UFT, which I lead, because of our past success at the bargaining table.The workforce can have a voice, not only in hospitals or schools, but in contract negotiations as well.

“The same way parents ask questions about class size, I want every patient to ask questions about the staffing ratio in hospitals,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said as he welcomed nurses to the Westin Grand Central in Manhattan on Nov. 22 for the 40th annual Professional Issues Conference of the Federation of Nurses/UFT.

Safe staffing enables patients to get the care they deserve when hospitalized — and it must be locked in by legislation.