Thousands of Nurses Strike Across Major New York City Hospitals Over Staffing and Safety Disputes

Thousands of nurses from three major New York City hospitals—including Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Montefiore—went on strike after contract negotiations failed. About 15,000 nurses are involved, demanding better staffing, workplace safety, and limits on AI use. The strike, during a severe flu season, could disrupt patient care and force procedure cancellations. Hospitals have hired temporary staff to reduce impact. The last major nursing strike in the city was in 2023, which led to pay increases and staffing promises, though disputes over progress remain.

Thousands of nurses across three major hospital systems in New York City went on strike on Monday after negotiations over the weekend failed to produce any significant breakthroughs in their ongoing contract disputes. The nurses began their walkout at 6 a.m., affecting The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses. Other hospitals involved in the strike include NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. According to the New York State Nurses Association, approximately 15,000 nurses are participating in the strike.
This labor action comes at a particularly challenging time, during a severe flu season, and has the potential to disrupt hospital operations significantly. Hospitals may be forced to transfer patients, cancel medical procedures, or divert ambulances to other facilities. Additionally, the strike could put added pressure on other hospitals in the city that are not part of the labor dispute, as patients may avoid the centers affected by the walkout.
In preparation for the strike, the hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nursing staff to help fill the labor gaps. During negotiations, hospital officials issued statements promising to “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions,” while Montefiore Medical Center posted a message reassuring patients that appointments would still be honored. Despite these efforts, the strike involves multiple hospitals negotiating independently with the union, although several other hospitals in the city and surrounding areas have recently reached agreements with nurses to avert strikes.
The primary issues driving the strike vary somewhat by hospital but generally focus on staffing levels and workplace safety. Nurses have reported being assigned unmanageable workloads and are demanding improvements to staffing to ensure patient safety and the quality of care. Security in the workplace is another major concern, highlighted by a recent incident in which a man armed with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was ultimately killed by police. Nurses are also calling for limitations on the use of artificial intelligence in hospital operations.
The nonprofit hospitals involved have stated that they have been making efforts to improve staffing levels, but argue that many of the union’s demands would be too costly to implement fully. Last month, nurses voted to authorize the strike in response to what they viewed as insufficient progress in negotiations.
Government officials have expressed concern over the strike. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani both encouraged continued negotiations in an effort to reach a resolution that would honor the work of the nurses while keeping hospitals operational. Mayor Mamdani emphasized the critical role nurses play in the city’s healthcare system, stating, “Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable.”
This strike is not the first of its kind in recent years. The last major nursing strike in New York City occurred in 2023 at Mount Sinai and Montefiore hospitals and lasted three days. That strike resulted in a pay increase of 19% over three years and included promised improvements in staffing. However, disagreements between the union and hospital administrations have resurfaced over whether those staffing guarantees have been fully implemented, or if the hospitals have fallen short of their commitments. The current strike reflects ongoing tensions and unresolved issues around nurses’ working conditions, safety, and fair compensation in New York City’s major healthcare institutions.