PEF Launches Campaign to Highlight Plight of SUNY Nurses

ALBANY, NY (03/16/2018) (readMedia)-- The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) launched a billboard and sticker campaign today to create awareness of the dedication of PEF-represented nurses at SUNY Upstate Medical Center and the alarming conditions in which they are required to do their jobs.

The digital billboards will be up in the Syracuse and Albany areas beginning March 16, and will run for four weeks. The messages are: "I'm a PEF Nurse; What's Your Superpower?" "PEF Nurses Save Lives. We are the Heart of Health Care," and "SUNY Upstate Nurses Deserve Respect."

PEF President Wayne Spence said, "PEF wants the public, lawmakers and SUNY Trustees to understand what is happening at SUNY Upstate Medical Center. The nurses that this union proudly represents are devoted to providing quality care to all their patients. But because of a lack of staffing, these nurses have been forced to attend to an increased number of patients, work double shifts, and have even been denied meal breaks.

"This type of scenario detracts from the reason they entered the nursing profession. It reduces individual patient care, and shows disrespect to professionals who deserve to be appreciated."

As a sign of solidarity, nurses in other SUNY hospitals and PEF members at all state agencies and facilities are wearing stickers to support this campaign.

To view the billboard images, click here

PEF is the state's largest white-collar labor union representing 54,000 professional, scientific and technical employees. For more information, contact Jane Briggs at jbriggs@pef.org or 800-342-4306 ext. 277.

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