In New York City, nurses engaged in a strike that began on January 12 have reached a preliminary agreement with two major hospital systems, Montefiore and Mount Sinai, addressing key concerns including staffing levels, workplace safety, and health benefits. This development marks a significant step toward ending nearly a month of labor unrest, though strikes remain ongoing at NewYork-Presbyterian. The walkout has involved about 15,000 nurses across some of the city's largest private nonprofit hospitals during a particularly challenging flu season, prompting the affected institutions to employ numerous temporary nurses to support operations.
The proposed contracts, covering an estimated 10,500 nurses, outline a three-year deal featuring a 12% wage increase and maintaining current health insurance benefits without additional out-of-pocket costs. The nurses’ union reported that the agreements also include new protections against workplace violence, emphasizing specific support for transgender and immigrant employees and patients, alongside provisions regulating the incorporation of artificial intelligence in hospital settings.
The New York State Nurses Association indicated that union members at Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospitals would begin ratification votes starting Monday, with the potential for nurses to resume their duties by Saturday, contingent on approval. Nancy Hagans, president of the nurses’ association, highlighted the commitment of nearly 15,000 members who participated in the strike under severe weather conditions, emphasizing their dedication to safe patient care throughout.
Hospital representatives refrained from detailed comments pending the vote outcome. Montefiore’s spokesperson confirmed the ongoing voting process, while Mount Sinai’s CEO Brendan Carr acknowledged the difficulty of negotiations and expressed intention to restore organizational momentum post-strike in a message to staff.
Conversely, NewYork-Presbyterian announced accepting a mediation proposal offering pay raises, preservation of pensions and health benefits, and increased staffing, yet the nurses’ union stated no final agreement has been reached, and the strike continues. Among those picketing at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, nurse Jennifer Lynch expressed frustration that contract fairness has been achieved elsewhere but remains unresolved at her institution. Nurse Maria Tsoi elaborated on the excessive patient loads in the emergency department, emphasizing the need for more nurses to ensure quality patient care.
Throughout the strike, the hospitals have contended their critical services, such as organ transplants and complex surgeries, continue with minimal disruption, though some elective procedures were postponed, and patient transfers or early discharges occurred in anticipation of the labor action.
Staffing has been a central issue across facilities, with nurses highlighting concerns over being overextended and hospitals initially reluctant to guarantee manageable patient-nurse ratios. The union has also sought improved safety measures after recent violent incidents targeting hospital staff, calling for secure environments and restrictions on artificial intelligence deployment.
The hospitals criticized the union’s demands as excessive, noting that salaries for unionized nurses average between $162,000 and $165,000 annually excluding benefits. Nurses responded by contrasting these figures with substantial executive compensation within the institutions.
It is important to note that not all hospitals within the three healthcare systems were involved in the strike, nor did public city hospitals partake. Previous strikes in 2023 within some Mount Sinai and Montefiore facilities culminated in contracts that included a 19% pay increase over three years.
The proposed contracts, covering an estimated 10,500 nurses, outline a three-year deal featuring a 12% wage increase and maintaining current health insurance benefits without additional out-of-pocket costs. The nurses’ union reported that the agreements also include new protections against workplace violence, emphasizing specific support for transgender and immigrant employees and patients, alongside provisions regulating the incorporation of artificial intelligence in hospital settings.
The New York State Nurses Association indicated that union members at Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospitals would begin ratification votes starting Monday, with the potential for nurses to resume their duties by Saturday, contingent on approval. Nancy Hagans, president of the nurses’ association, highlighted the commitment of nearly 15,000 members who participated in the strike under severe weather conditions, emphasizing their dedication to safe patient care throughout.
Hospital representatives refrained from detailed comments pending the vote outcome. Montefiore’s spokesperson confirmed the ongoing voting process, while Mount Sinai’s CEO Brendan Carr acknowledged the difficulty of negotiations and expressed intention to restore organizational momentum post-strike in a message to staff.
Conversely, NewYork-Presbyterian announced accepting a mediation proposal offering pay raises, preservation of pensions and health benefits, and increased staffing, yet the nurses’ union stated no final agreement has been reached, and the strike continues. Among those picketing at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, nurse Jennifer Lynch expressed frustration that contract fairness has been achieved elsewhere but remains unresolved at her institution. Nurse Maria Tsoi elaborated on the excessive patient loads in the emergency department, emphasizing the need for more nurses to ensure quality patient care.
Throughout the strike, the hospitals have contended their critical services, such as organ transplants and complex surgeries, continue with minimal disruption, though some elective procedures were postponed, and patient transfers or early discharges occurred in anticipation of the labor action.
Staffing has been a central issue across facilities, with nurses highlighting concerns over being overextended and hospitals initially reluctant to guarantee manageable patient-nurse ratios. The union has also sought improved safety measures after recent violent incidents targeting hospital staff, calling for secure environments and restrictions on artificial intelligence deployment.
The hospitals criticized the union’s demands as excessive, noting that salaries for unionized nurses average between $162,000 and $165,000 annually excluding benefits. Nurses responded by contrasting these figures with substantial executive compensation within the institutions.
It is important to note that not all hospitals within the three healthcare systems were involved in the strike, nor did public city hospitals partake. Previous strikes in 2023 within some Mount Sinai and Montefiore facilities culminated in contracts that included a 19% pay increase over three years.