Nearly 15,000 nurses walk out in record-setting strike across New York City

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The largest nurses' strike in the history of New York City commenced on Monday, January 12, after a failed attempt by the New York State Nurses Association to strike a deal with five major hospitals in the city regarding higher pay and safer working conditions.  

As a result of the non-agreement between the nurses' union and the hospital, nearly 15,000 nurses have gone on strike, which started as early as 6 am on Monday. 

Nurses' union urges patients to seek care despite strike

The NYSNA wrote a message for the public on X the same day as the strikes started. It stated that nearly 15,000 nurses from Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian were on strike.

“Because greedy hospital management have given frontline nurses no other choice,” the statement read.

It added that although going on strike was their last resort, the association’s key points in negotiations included safe staffing for patients, protection from workplace violence, and health care for frontline nurses.

“Nurses are tired of the threats, the retaliation for speaking out on workplace violence, and the union-busting and interference with our union rights,” it read. 

The nurses' association had a message for New Yorkers and urged them not to delay getting medical care if they were sick, despite being on strike.

The association wrote that they would rather be the ones providing the required care themselves, but had been pushed to the strike lines by their bosses.

“We appreciate solidarity from our patients — but going into the hospital to get the care you need is NOT crossing our strike line,” it assured. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani extends support to nurses on strike

Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement on Sunday night ahead of the strikes and said that the safety and well-being of NYC was his top priority.

“Ensuring New Yorkers have the care they need is critical, especially during flu season,” he added.

The mayor noted that the Emergency Management team, the FDNY, the health department, the public hospital system, and his senior leadership team were in touch consistently to closely monitor the situation.

He also said that the leadership was ready for every scenario, including a strike.

The mayor also stated that the people of the city should not fear losing access to health care and that nurses should not be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits, or less dignity while doing life-changing work.

Mamdani told the nurses association that he stood by it, adding that they had kept the city alive during its “hardest moments.”

“Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

The mayor stated that while several hospitals had agreed to meet the nurses’ demands and he urged the remaining to reach a deal that would honor everyone and keep New York hospitals open.