Check Before You Go: Nearly 15,000 NYC Nurses Strike

By Y.M. Lowy

Anyone who relies on New York City hospitals is being urged to check ahead before appointments, as nearly 15,000 nurses went on strike today at major medical centers across Manhattan and the Bronx.

Many local residents rely on these hospitals for specialty care and scheduled procedures.

The walkout, led by the New York State Nurses Association, began before sunrise, with picket lines forming outside hospitals operated by Mount Sinai, Montefiore Medical Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian. Contract talks broke down over the weekend after weeks of negotiations over staffing levels, workplace safety, wages, and health benefits.

Outside Mount Sinai Hospital, nurses gathered in the cold, chanting and rallying together. Many said they are fighting for safer staffing and better protection on the job, pointing to recent incidents of violence inside hospitals and concerns about patient care.

Hospital officials warned the strike could last for weeks and said the cost of union demands comes as hospitals face growing financial pressure, including expected cuts to Medicaid funding.

Hospitals say contingency plans are in place, including the use of temporary staff, patient transfers, and the rescheduling of some procedures. 

Governor Kathy Hochul issued an emergency order allowing medical professionals from outside New York to help staff hospitals during the strike.

The nurses’ contracts expired at the end of last year. The last citywide nurses strike took place in 2023 and ended after three days with pay increases and staffing agreements. This time, nurses say they are focused on protecting those gains and improving safety inside hospitals.

Hospitals affected include Mount Sinai locations in Manhattan, multiple NewYork-Presbyterian facilities in Upper Manhattan, and several Montefiore hospitals in the Bronx. 

photo: Shutterstock