Goes to Pataki: Move Bill for Nurse Pensions at Age 50

Goes to Pataki
Move Bill for Nurse Pensions at Age 50

By HOWARD MEGDAL

The State Legislature last week passed bills protecting the integrity of nursing licenses and designating nursing jobs as "physically taxing" following an intense lobbying effort by the union representing nurses in the city's Health and Hospitals Corporation and other city agencies.

NANCY KALEDA: Cites nursing job hazards. The "physically taxing" bill, if signed by Governor Pataki, would allow Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses to retire with full benefits at age 50 after 25 years of service. It passed in the Senate 55-0, and by a vote of 128-1 in the Assembly. The measure previously received the necessary home-rule message from the City Council.

'Historic Event'

"This is a historical event for us," said Nancy Kaleda, Senior Associate Director of Economic and General Welfare for the New York State Nurses Association during a June 21 interview. "Very significant and historic. We're thrilled that the City Council and the State Legislature have chosen to address this injustice in the city code."

Ms. Kaleda said that nurses are 200 percent more likely to be injured than construction workers, and rank in the top eight professions for muscular-skeleto disorders.

"Nurses lift 1.8 tons per shift. The recommended amount is 46 pounds per shift," she said, referring to the directive of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Nurses took a step toward another victory with the passage of a bill that would make it illegal to label oneself a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse without actually being one.

'Bill for Consumers'

If the Governor signs the bill, New York would become the 16th state to enact this protection for nurses. The measure would take effect one year from the bill's signing date.

"This is a consumer protection bill," NYSNA spokesman Mark Genovese said in a June 21 interview. "They really deserve to be confident that those who call themselves nurses have proper licenses, proper training. We've seen plenty of incidents over the past few years where that has not been the case."

Mr. Pataki's press office did not return a call seeking comment, and Ms. Kaleda said that "the Governor's been very tight-lipped on [his support for both bills.] We're meeting with his office next week, and we hope to get a better read then. We hope he'll do the right thing." She said the lobbying for both bills reflected NYSNA's increased focus on winning improvements for membership through legislation as well as collective bargaining.

"This is certainly a reflection of the commitment of our union to address our union's needs through the legislative arena," Ms. Kaleda said. "This is going to be more and more on the table for us."