Nurses across three major medical centers in New York City are set to strike on Monday due to stalled contract negotiations, as announced by their union on Sunday. Approximately 15,000 nurses will leave their posts at Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals, predominantly located in Manhattan and the Bronx, citing insufficient progress from hospital executives in negotiations.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans expressed disappointment in a statement, citing a prioritization of profits over safe patient care by hospital management. She emphasized that while nurses are open to discussions regarding salaries, the hospitals have not provided meaningful counteroffers and are allegedly still threatening cuts to healthcare for frontline staff. “We are ready to bargain all day and night to avoid a strike tomorrow,” said Hagans.
In a memo, Mount Sinai’s CEO, Dr. Brendan Carr, acknowledged that numerous items remain unsettled in the negotiations and indicated a potential for labor disruption. Angela Karafazli, a spokesperson from NewYork-Presbyterian, noted that while recent negotiations included non-economic proposals, there has been little progress on economic terms, with the union reportedly refusing to engage with the latest offers.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani chimed into the labor dispute, emphasizing the need to protect the city’s healthcare during flu season and asserting that no nurse should have to compromise on pay or working conditions for their essential roles. He called for both sides to remain at the negotiating table to reach a resolution that honors the nurses’ contributions.
Representatives from the hospitals refuted claims that they are attempting to cut health benefits or staffing protections. They pointed out that the nurses’ salary demands may not align with the broader financial landscape, as anticipated cuts to federal healthcare funding could impact budget considerations.
This upcoming strike follows a similar walkout earlier this year and marks a potential milestone as the largest nurses’ strike in the city’s history. Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a disaster emergency declaration for the counties affected, allowing out-of-state and Canadian healthcare professionals to temporarily practice in New York amid the impending strike.
Strikes by nurses have historically raised concerns about patient safety. A study indicating increased mortality rates during such walkouts adds urgency to the current situation. In response, city officials and hospital leaders are making preparations to mitigate risks to patient care by monitoring hospital capacities and deploying outside staff, with Mount Sinai already bringing in over 1,400 replacement nurses.
The Nurses Association continues to highlight major hurdles in negotiations, focusing on salary, the protection of health benefits, and the enforcement of staffing rules established in previous contracts, alongside demands for enhanced safety measures in hospitals.
The ongoing circumstances are precarious, but there remains hope that both sides may find common ground to avert the strike. This possibility is underscored by the agreements reached by smaller healthcare facilities with the union, which could serve as a precedent for negotiations with larger hospital systems.