UTICA, N.Y. -- St. Elizabeth Medical Center officials announce plans for a five-day lock-out in September.
It would start on September 1st.
That's the same day, that just last week, the New York State Nurses Association said they planned to strike.
Samaritan Medical Center and Nathan Littauer Hospital also announced lockouts in the midst of contract negotiations with the State Nurses Association.
Officials with Saint Elizabeth said the Nurses Association is not working for the benefit of the nurses, rather for a statewide strategy furthering their agenda.
"Our actions to put a plan in place to keep temporary nurses at our hospital for five days is not meant to harm our nurses, employees or medical staff at SEMC," said President and CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System, Scott Perra. "We want the NYSNA bargaining team to come to the table prepared to work on an agreement for our nurses and avoid a strike or a lock out."
"The lack of commitment by management to safe staffing is disappointing to our bargaining unit," said Mike Pattison, a registered nurse at Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. "All we want is a fair contract and adequate staffing so we can properly care for our patients of the Mohawk Valley and surrounding communities."
Perra said they have offered to meet with the state's Nurses Association's negotiation team over the next few days.
Contract negotiations have been going on for more than 14 months.