The largest nurses strike in New York City history began Monday morning as nearly 15,000 nurses walked off the job at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals after contract negotiations between the New York State Nurses Association and hospital management collapsed. The walkout comes after 97 percent of nurses at twelve NYC hospitals voted to authorize strike action to protect patient care and working conditions.
Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Friday in anticipation of the strike, warning that the work stoppage could jeopardize the lives of thousands of New Yorkers and patients who depend on these major medical facilities. The strike notice was delivered on January 2, 2026, just two days after contracts expired on December 31, 2025, setting the stage for one of the most significant labor actions in the city's healthcare sector in decades.
NYSNA nurses are demanding a new contract that includes pay increases, improved safe staffing levels, full healthcare coverage and pensions, and stronger workplace protections against violence. The union accused hospitals of threatening to cut healthcare benefits for frontline nurses and roll back safe staffing standards that were won by nurses during a strike two years ago. Union leaders stated that hospitals have prioritized profits over patient safety and nurse wellbeing.
The affected hospitals issued a joint statement calling the strike reckless and accusing NYSNA leadership of abandoning patients in their time of need. Hospital administrators said they had made fair offers at the bargaining table and expressed disappointment that union leaders chose confrontation over continued negotiations. Montefiore Medical Center announced it was preparing for the strike to last multiple weeks and has brought in replacement nurses to maintain operations.
Nurses at five NYC safety-net hospitals in Brooklyn and Staten Island rescinded their strike notice after management agreed to maintain and pay for healthcare benefits for frontline nurses. Four of these hospitals reached tentative agreements on new contracts that protect patient and nurse safety, demonstrating that productive negotiations are possible when hospital leadership shows willingness to compromise.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood with striking nurses on the picket lines, calling their fight a battle for dignity, fairness, and the future of the city's healthcare system. The mayor criticized wealthy private hospitals for attempting to cut benefits while safety-net hospitals serving lower-income communities found ways to reach agreements. Labor advocates noted that the strike reflects broader tensions in the American healthcare industry over staffing levels and working conditions.
Healthcare policy experts warn that the strike could have significant implications for patient care across the city, particularly for emergency services and scheduled procedures. Hospitals have activated contingency plans and are diverting some patients to other facilities. Both sides have expressed willingness to return to the bargaining table, but significant gaps remain on key issues including staffing ratios and healthcare benefits for nurses and their families.