St. Charles nurses threaten July 13 strike over contract dispute

Dozens of St. Charles nurses marched to President James O’Conner’s office Tuesday and delivered a strike notice that sets Monday, July 13, as the earliest day they could walk out if contract talks do not produce a deal. The New York State Nurses Association says about 300 nurses are prepared to strike and that its bargaining committee can call one with 10 days’ notice.

The fight centers on enforceable safe staffing, with nurses accusing hospital management of ignoring staffing standards already agreed to and New York’s safe staffing law. On June 12, nurses voted 99.7% to authorize a strike after a June 11 press conference focused on the staffing crisis. Negotiations have dragged on for months.

Catholic Health says St. Charles will remain open if a strike happens. The hospital could still see disruptions in the 24-hour emergency department, inpatient units and outpatient services, where staffing changes can quickly alter wait times, scheduling and how many patients each nurse can safely handle.

The dispute also reopens a fight the hospital settled in 2023. That year, St. Charles nurses voted 99.6% to authorize a strike after their contract expired on March 31, then reached a tentative agreement on June 5 and ratified it on June 6. The deal included set nurse-to-patient ratios, expedited staffing enforcement language and wage increases.

St. Charles, a Catholic Health community hospital in Port Jefferson, has served the area for more than 100 years and is designated by the New York State Department of Health as a Primary Stroke Center. It is the region’s most comprehensive rehabilitation provider and the only Long Island hospital with CARF accreditation for comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation for children and adults. The system has expanded the emergency department by about 4,000 square feet with 10 additional treatment bays, and it announced $250,000 for a new emergency-department cardiac catheterization lab.