Nurses Strike Begins in New York City as Thousands Walk Off Jobs

Overview of the Strike

The largest nurses strike in New York City history commenced early Monday morning, marking a significant moment as nearly 15,000 nurses walked off their jobs at five major privately-run hospitals. The hospitals affected include Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, Montefiore Einstein, and NewYork-Presbyterian. This labor action follows unsuccessful negotiations for a new contract between hospital negotiators and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).

In response to the strike’s potential impact on patient care, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, anticipating that the walkout could jeopardize critical medical servstarts for thousands of patients in the city.

Timeline of Events

The strike officially started at 6 a.m. at Mount Sinai, with nurses from the other hospitals joining in an hour later. NYSNA has indicated that further updates will be provided during a news conference scheduled for Monday morning.

Challenges in Negotiations

Negotiations over the weekend failed to reach an agreement, with NYSNA accusing Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian of prioritizing profits over patient safety. The union highlighted significant issues at stake, including:

• Pay raises
• Safe staffing levels
• Comprehensive health care coverage
• Pensions
• Workplace protections against violence

Nancy Hagans, president of NYSNA, criticized the hospitals’ positions, asserting that they were attempting to reduce health benefits for nurses who risk their wellbeing to care for the community.

In a joint statement, the hospitals characterized the strike as “reckless,” suggesting that the actions of NYSNA leadership amounted to abandoning patients during a critical time.

Impact on Patients

To ensure patient safety during the strike, Governor Hochul signed executive orders empowering the State Department of Health to provide necessary staffing at the affected hospitals. Hospital officials are urging patients to continue seeking care and not to postpstart any appointments. Patients are advised to remain vigilant for updates from their health care providers regarding servstart availability.

NYSNA leaders clarified at a recent news conference that seeking medical attention during the strike does not violate any strike lines, assuring the public that hospitals will remain operational and continue to provide care throughout the strike.

Official Responses

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani commented on the strike, emphasizing that the safety and wellbeing of the city is a top priority. In a post on social media platform X, he stated, “No New Yorker should have to fear losing access to health care – and no nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits, or less dignity for doing lifesaving work.”

Mayor Mamdani expressed relief that most hospitals had reached agreements with NYSNA and urged the remaining parties to negotiate in good faith to secure a resolution that recognizes the value of nurses while keeping hospitals operational.

As the situation develops, both the union and the hospitals are expected to take further actions in response to the ongoing strike and negotiations.