Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, fired 12 nurses and plans to replace them with artificial intelligence (AI) software, said nurses and city and state officials during a call with reporters on Wednesday.
The change comes on the heels of a February agreement between the nurses' union and the Montefiore hospital system that ended a nearly month-long strike. Nurses say the terminations directly violate that agreement, and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) has filed a class action grievance. A spokesperson for Montefiore Health System says the claims are "inaccurate and misleading."
In late May, Ajita Mathew, RN, who has been a nurse for 36 years and is a member of Montefiore's utilization review team, received a letter from the manager of Labor and Employee Relations stating that her position would be eliminated in 45 days.
"During this time, the Medical Center will work closely with you to determine whether there are suitable positions that [are] in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement," the letter stated. "Montefiore recognizes the commitment you have made to its patients and will work hard to make this transition easier for you."
All 12 nurses on the utilization review team received a similar letter, NYSNA said.
