Nurses at
two NYC hospital systems reached a tentative deal ending a strike, while
walkouts continue at another major network.
Nurses picket outside a Manhattan hospital during negotiations over staffing and pay.
NEW YORK,
United States.— Nurses at two of New York City’s largest private
hospital systems have reached a tentative agreement to end a nearly monthlong
strike centered on staffing levels, workplace safety and compensation. The deal
covers facilities operated by Montefiore and Mount Sinai. However, the labor
dispute continues at NewYork-Presbyterian, where union members remain on the
picket line.
The
strike began Jan. 12 and has involved approximately 15,000 nurses across
multiple hospitals. The new three-year proposal would affect roughly 10,500
nurses at Montefiore and Mount Sinai if ratified.
Strike
Overview and Timeline
The
walkout was launched by members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA),
following stalled negotiations over safe staffing ratios, wages, health
insurance protections and workplace conditions.
Nurses
began striking on Jan. 12 after contract talks failed to produce agreements
with several major hospital systems. The timing coincided with a demanding
winter season marked by elevated flu cases and high emergency department
volumes. Hospitals responded by hiring temporary nurses and rescheduling
certain elective procedures.
Union
leaders said staffing levels were the central concern. Nurses argued that
patient loads had become unsustainable and that prolonged understaffing
jeopardized patient safety. Hospital administrators countered that their
proposals included competitive compensation and hiring commitments, while
warning that extended labor actions could disrupt patient services.
By early
February, negotiations advanced at two systems — Montefiore and Mount Sinai —
culminating in Monday’s tentative deal announcement.
Terms of
the Tentative Agreements
According
to union statements, the proposed three-year contracts include a 12% pay raise
over the life of the agreement. The deals would also maintain nurses’ existing
health benefits without additional out-of-pocket costs.
In
addition to compensation, the agreements reportedly address several non-wage
priorities raised during negotiations:
- Commitments to increased
staffing levels
- Protections against
workplace violence
- Specific safeguards for
transgender and immigrant nurses and patients
- Provisions concerning the
use of artificial intelligence in hospital settings
Union
President Nancy Hagans stated that nurses would return to work Saturday if
members ratify the contracts. Voting began Monday and is scheduled to run
through midweek at affected facilities.
A
spokesperson for Montefiore Medical Center confirmed that nurses are voting but
declined further comment. In a message to staff, Mount Sinai CEO Brendan Carr
described the negotiations as “long and difficult,” pledging to rebuild
organizational momentum once operations normalize at Mount Sinai Health System.
NewYork-Presbyterian
Strike Continues
Despite
progress at two systems, nurses remain on strike at NewYork-Presbyterian.
Hospital
leadership said it agreed over the weekend to a mediator-backed proposal that
includes pay raises, preserved pensions, maintained health benefits and
increased staffing levels. However, union representatives disputed that
characterization, stating that no final agreement has been reached and that the
strike remains active.
On
Monday, nurses continued picketing outside NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley
Children’s Hospital in Manhattan. Several cited staffing ratios and job
security as unresolved sticking points.
Emergency
department nurses reported high patient volumes, with claims that as many as
300 patients can be treated at one time — a level they say is difficult to
manage under current staffing conditions. The union maintains that enforceable
staffing commitments are necessary to ensure patient safety.
Staffing
as the Core Dispute
Across
all systems, staffing levels have remained the primary issue.
Nurses
argue that extended periods of short staffing contribute to burnout, increase
medical error risks and strain emergency services. They have sought contract
language mandating safer patient-to-nurse ratios.
Hospital
administrators have acknowledged staffing challenges but contend that
recruitment efforts are ongoing and that compensation levels are already
competitive. According to hospital representatives, unionized nurses’ salaries
average between $162,000 and $165,000 annually, excluding benefits.
Union
leaders have countered by highlighting executive compensation, arguing that
hospital leadership salaries far exceed frontline wages.
The
tentative agreements at Montefiore and Mount Sinai reportedly include
mechanisms to increase staffing levels, though detailed implementation
frameworks have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Workplace
Safety and Security Concerns
Workplace
violence and security upgrades also became prominent negotiation issues.
Recent
incidents brought attention to safety vulnerabilities within hospital
environments, including a fatal police shooting involving a gunman at Mount Sinai
in November and a separate incident in Brooklyn involving an individual armed
with a sharp object.
Union
officials sought enhanced security measures and stronger contractual
protections for staff. The tentative agreements reportedly include new protections,
particularly for transgender and immigrant workers and patients.
Hospital
administrators have stated that safety remains a top priority and that existing
security protocols are continually reviewed and updated.
Operational
Impact During the Strike
Hospital
systems have maintained that patient care continued throughout the strike, with
organ transplants, cardiac surgeries and other complex procedures proceeding
largely as scheduled.
However,
several facilities postponed elective surgeries, transferred certain patients
and discharged others in advance of the strike’s start. Temporary nursing staff
were brought in to fill gaps.
Public
hospitals operated by New York City were not affected, nor were all facilities
within the three private systems involved in the strike. Some private hospitals
reached last-minute agreements before the walkout began.
The
tentative deals mark the second major labor action involving Mount Sinai and
Montefiore nurses in recent years. In 2023, nurses staged a three-day strike
that concluded with contracts including 19% pay increases over three years.
What
Happens Next
The
immediate next step is ratification voting by nurses at Montefiore and Mount
Sinai. If members approve the agreements, thousands of nurses are expected to
return to work Saturday.
At
NewYork-Presbyterian, negotiations appear ongoing. The union has not announced
new voting plans, and no confirmed timeline for resolution has been provided.
Scenario
(Clearly Labeled):
If NewYork-Presbyterian reaches a similar agreement, the city’s largest private
hospital labor dispute in recent years could conclude within days. If talks
stall, however, the strike there could extend, prolonging operational
adjustments and continued reliance on temporary staffing.
For now,
New York’s healthcare system remains partially divided — with two systems
poised for resolution and one still at an impasse.
By Daniel Whitaker | CRNTimes.com | New YorK