Nearly 15,000 nurses across New York City went on strike early Monday after contract negotiations failed to reach an agreement before the deadline, marking the largest nurses’ strike in the city’s history.
The walkout affects several major hospital systems, including Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, Montefiore Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Nurses began leaving their posts at 6 a.m., gathering outside hospitals with drums, whistles, and chants as the strike officially began.
The nurses’ contract expired on December 31. Union leaders say negotiations stalled over key issues such as pay increases, staffing levels, fully funded benefits, and stronger workplace protections against violence. According to the union, chronic understaffing has made patient care increasingly unsafe while placing severe physical and emotional strain on nurses.
Political leaders join picket lines
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared alongside striking nurses Monday morning, framing the labor action as a broader fight over the direction of the city’s health care system.
He argued that the dispute highlights deep inequality within the industry, pointing to executive compensation at major hospital systems while many nurses struggle to cover basic living costs. Mamdani said nurses are not demanding excessive compensation, but fair wages, protected pensions, safe working conditions, and adequate benefits.
The mayor urged hospital executives and union leaders to return to negotiations immediately, stressing that the city is working to safeguard both patients and health care workers during the strike.
State of emergency declared
Ahead of the strike, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, warning that a large-scale walkout could endanger patient safety if not carefully managed. The declaration allows the state to mobilize additional resources to support hospitals during the labor disruption.
Hospitals impacted by the strike have emphasized that they remain open and operational. Mount Sinai said it has hired more than 1,000 agency nurses to reduce disruptions to patient care.
Dr. Brendan Carr of Mount Sinai said hospitals had spent significant time preparing contingency plans to ensure continuity of care, adding that patient safety remains the top priority despite the strike.
Some hospitals avoid strike action
Not all hospital systems were affected. Three Northwell hospitals on Long Island reached a last-minute agreement with nurses, averting a strike at those facilities.
Negotiations in New York City remain ongoing, though no timeline has been set for renewed talks. As the strike continues, pressure is mounting on hospital management to address staffing shortages and compensation concerns while maintaining essential medical services across the city.