Our mission & vision
Nurses on the job during the pandemic.
Our work
The Federation of Nurses/UFT is a powerful voice for nurses in contract negotiations and enforcement of contract provisions. We fight hard to see that our members receive just compensation for their work and are treated with respect and dignity on the job. In particular, over several decades of advocacy, we have fought successfully against understaffing, mandatory overtime and unsafe conditions, and for higher pay, preservation of pension benefits and the workplace rights of nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Miller Photography
Lutheran Medical Center RNs Yaduram Singh (left) and Angel Garcia are ready to vote.
We strive to serve our community and our patients, believe in quality care for all and are passionate advocates for laws that set safe staffing levels to protect both our patients and members.
At the heart of our contracts — and at the heart of our union — is a strong dedication to ensuring that each union member is treated like a professional, with respect and dignity, and provided with the working environment we need to provide quality patient care for all persons, no matter what their socioeconomic status, race, color, creed or sexual orientation. Our contracts support both our members and our patients: creating workplace conditions under which our nurses are able to provide the highest quality patient care is among our chief concerns.
Our union also provides a wide array of expertly delivered services, including professional development courses and conferences, skilled grievance handling, vigorous help with worker compensation cases, extensive consultation about contractual rights and assistance with personal and professional challenges, and maintains both state and national legislative programs to address the political needs of our membership.
We are also active at the state level through our state affiliate NYSUT. NYSUT’s 22,000 healthcare professionals work jointly toward our shared objectives through the union’s Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). The work of the council is wide-ranging, incorporating professional development initiatives, legislative lobbying, and various other programs and initiatives. The council meets approximately five times each year.
Our affiliates
New York State United Teachers
The Federation of Nurses/UFT draws upon the experience of the UFT, NYSUT and the AFT. The AFT has 43 state affiliates, more than 3,000 local affiliates, and approximately 1.4 million members nationwide. Including the members of the Federation of Nurses/UFT, NYSUT represents a total of 22,000 healthcare professionals in New York State and the AFT represents more than 200,000 healthcare professionals nationwide.
Some 700 RNs at Brooklyn’s Lutheran Medical Center represented by the Federation of Nurses/UFT overwhelmingly approved a new contract that held the line on health benefits and pensions.
Our chapter participates actively in the life of NYSUT through one of its component institutions, the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC), a statewide committee of healthcare professionals dedicated to navigating the many challenges facing health professionals in New York State. At the national level, AFT health care professionals meet in a committee of healthcare leaders to discuss issues of mutual concern to our members. We also work collaboratively with healthcare professionals in other unions, both in New York State and at the national level.
Get active!
The Federation of Nurses is your union — we hope you will get involved and help us advocate for the rights of both patients and nurses!
See our events calendar and find out other ways to connect with us.
If you would like to become more active in your union, please contact a representative from your borough or workplace or contact the office directly at 212-420-7981 or by email at nurses [at] uft [dot] org (nurses[at]uft[dot]org). We hope to hear from you!