The New York State Nurses Association has secured the reinstatement of nurse practitioner Sarah Dowd at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County after she was suspended without pay for advocating for safe staffing and engaging in protected union activity.
Dowd returned to work with full back pay following a campaign by fellow nurses, labour organizations and community supporters.
“NYSNA nurses across H+H stood up to demand management respect our right to organize,” said Dowd. “We will enforce our safe staffing ratios and will not be silenced. Any further efforts to silence or intimidate nurses will be addressed with the power of our solidarity. With our rights firmly established, we can get back to the invaluable work of ensuring every patient gets cared for by a nurse with a safe and appropriate workload.”
Her reinstatement followed an investigatory meeting with hospital management the previous week, after which the hospital agreed to lift her suspension and compensate her for lost wages.
The outcome marks a significant development for nurses and healthcare workers in Brooklyn, highlighting the importance of workplace protections and the right to advocate for adequate staffing.
The dispute also draws attention to the relationship between manageable nursing workloads, patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivered in the borough's public hospitals.
Support for Dowd's reinstatement included a petition signed by more than 1,000 people and a public demonstration at Kings County Hospital, where nurses raised concerns about their right to organise and advocate for patient safety.
The campaign also received backing from state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and City Council Member Rita Joseph, among other representatives. The New York City Central Labor Council, Citizen Action of New York and Churches United for Fair Housing also supported the effort.
NYSNA has indicated that its members will continue advocating for compliance with safe staffing requirements and protections for union activity.
Dowd's return to work concludes the immediate dispute over her suspension, but the association says its broader campaign for safe staffing and nurses' workplace rights will continue.
