Officials at Staten Island University Hospital's North site are trying to assure patients and residents that they are ready should nurses go on a 24 hour strike on July 3rd.

A spokesperson for the hospital, which is owned by Northwell Health, said they were informed of the walkout this week.

They told NY1 that the potential strike only involves nurses, represented by the New York State Nurses Association, who work at the hospital's North site.

The association represents about 1,200 unionized nurses, according to hospital officials.

A spokesperson for the hospital released a statement on Friday that said, “We’re extremely disappointed to be at this crossroad once again with NYSNA (the union took similar action in 2015), but we remain hopeful an agreement can be reached to avoid a strike”.

The statement also said, “…representatives from Northwell Health and SIUH have bargained in good faith during 42 sessions since June 2017 to reach a fair and balanced contract…”

According to the New York State Nurses Association, its members are fighting for safer staffing levels at the hospital, fair wages and health insurance for retired nurses.

“SIUH has committed multiple unfair labor practices, and this strike is in response to that illegal behavior,” the association said in a statement on Friday.

“…management refuses to properly staff the hospital and refuses to discuss fair wages and benefits – all while the executives take home large compensation packages. It’s not right and it’s not fair. The patients deserve better, the community deserves better and the nurses deserve better,” said Pat Kane, a Nurse at Staten Island University Hospital, in the association's statement released on Friday.

Should the one day strike take place, it would begin at 7 a.m. on July 3rd and end at 6:59 a.m. the following day, July 4th.

Hospital officials have already contracted nurses from staffing agency for 5 days in preparation for the potential strike.

“We have contracted with a nationally respected nursing agency to ensure that if nurses follow through with a strike, SIUH will operate normally and continue to provide uninterrupted, world-class care to patients. Nurses from the staffing agency will undergo extensive orientation and training that will enable them to seamlessly transition if they are called in to support SIUH North. They are fully prepared to carry out best-practice protocols at SIUH, including nursing expertise in specialized areas of care such as the intensive care and critical care units,” hospital officials said.

“The hospital has a contractual obligation with the agency to have the nurses on staff for five days,” hospital officials added.