Why are over 15,000 nurses on strike in New York City? How is it impacting health care? – Firstpost

Nearly 15,000 New York City nurses at several major hospitals are on strike after contract negotiations between five major hospitals and the state nurses union stalled after months of bargaining. According to the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), nurses are walking off the job at five privately run hospitals, including Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, and NewYork-Presbyterian in Manhattan, and Montefiore Einstein in the Bronx.A demonstrator holds a banner while New York State Nurses Association union members walk the picket line outside the Mount Sinai Hospital as they strike in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 12, 2026. Reuters

The union-led strike has accused large hospitals across NYC of putting profits over safe patient care. The strike began on Monday (January 12) after their contract expired on December 31, according to an ABC News report. New York City Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the strike. It is called one of the largest nurses’ strikes in New York City’s history, CBS News reported.

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Here’s what to know about the situation.

Why are nurses on strike in NYC?

Higher pay, workplace safety during contract negotiations, full health care coverage, and pensions are long-standing union demands, which they claim the wealthiest hospital systems in the city refuse to compromise on. The unions pointed out that CEO compensation at three hospitals – Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and New York Presbyterian – is nearly 12,000 times more than that of the average nurse, reported the Guardian.

President of NYSNA, Nancy Hagans, who worked at Maimonides Medical Centre in Brooklyn for over 30 years, told the reports publication, “Hospitals are pushing to scale back safe staffing ratios. They are refusing to guarantee healthcare benefit coverage for nurses, and declining to address workplace safety issues.”

More from Explainers Trump's health reform hits court hurdle, judge blocks drug rebate scheme for safety-net hospitals Why is Berlin’s longest blackout since WWII being linked to terrorism?Members of the New York State Nurses Association union picket outside the NewYork-Presbyterian Milstein hospital, during their strike in New York City, U.S., January 12, 2026. Reuters

She also noted that hospitals are suggesting slashing benefits during a severe flu spike. “These hospitals are pushing to cut health benefits for nurses who put their own health on the line to care for New Yorkers during this historic flu surge, Hagans added, reported ABC7. “Nurses do not want to strike, but our bosses have forced us out on strike,” Times quoted the NYSNA President as saying.

“Our average salary is about 125-130,000. We are also asking for fair wages. Wages, we would negotiate, but patient care, we will not cut corners. According to media reports, management claims we are asking for 40 per cent, which is false, as the CEO of NYP earned $23 million last year (roughly Rs 190.9 crore). His two-day salary is more than what nurses make in a year,” the NYSNA President told NPR.

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Hagans highlighted workplace violence, citing an incident at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital last week that ended in a fatal police shooting. She furthered, “We are also asking for workplace violence protection because, as you know, it has been a rampage. And last week - Thursday - there was an active shooter at New York Methodist, which belongs to NYP in Brooklyn, New York.”

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CBS News reported that registered nurse Cecilia Barreto, picketing outside Mount Sinai, noted striking was a last resort.

“I have been here two years. I know that there are nurses who have battled cancer and depend on their health care. So we need to make sure that the health care we receive stays intact because their lives depend on it,” the updates publication quoted Barreto as saying.

How are affected hospitals responding?

Hospital officials, who have been part of negotiations, have called the unions’ demand expensive. In a previous statement, Montefiore Hospital called some of the demands “irresponsible.” In a joint statement, all affected hospitals called the union’s strike “reckless” and accused striking nurses of abandoning patients, according to media reports.

CBS News quoted hospitals as saying, “NYSNA leadership has chosen to abandon patients in their time of need, but Montefiore Medical Centre, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian will not. Their decision to walk out on our patients can only be described as reckless.”

Mount Sinai announced it is prepared for a prolonged strike, adding, “We have taken every step to finest support our patients and employees in the event of NYSNA forcing our nurses to walk away…"Economic Times reported.

A spokesperson for Mount Sinai told The New York Times that nurses there earn an average of $162,000 a year (approximately Rs 1.46 crore) and that NYSNA’s asks would raise that amount to $275,000 (approximately Rs 2.48 crore) over three years.

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“The health care system is under siege financially. The demands of the union are so outrageous that there is no way they can concede to what the union is asking for,” Kenneth E. Raske, the president of the trade group Greater New York Hospital Association, told the Times.

Meanwhile, a few hospitals in the area, including all Northwell Health facilities in Nassau County, reached a deal with NYSNA.

What could the strike mean for patients?

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed executive orders on Friday (January 9) to maintain staffing levels at affected hospitals during the New York City nurses’ strike.

The affected hospitals by the strike will remain open. Travel nurses have been hired to temporarily cover for workers protesting at this time, the Times reported, citing Associated Press. Montefiore announced that its emergency rooms will remain open. There must be no delay in treatment, and appointments should not be rescheduled.

According to a CBS News report, NYSNA also stated that patients should continue seeking care.

What did Mayor Mamdani say while joining the picket line?

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood alongside protesters outside New York-Presbyterian in Washington Heights. Mamdani stated, “In every one of our city’s darkest periods, nurses showed up to work. Their value is not negotiable, and their worth is not up for debate.”

“They show up, and all they are asking for in return is dignity, respect and the fair pay and treatment that they deserve. They should settle for nothing less,” he added, according to CBS News.

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The New York City Mayor also took to his X handle, releasing a similar statement the night before the strike and urged both sides to come to the bargaining table.

The safety and wellbeing of this city is my top priority and ensuring New Yorkers have the care they need is critical, especially during flu season.

The city's Emergency Management gruppe, FDNY, health department, public hospital system, and my senior leadership truppe are in…

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 12, 2026

He wrote on X, “No New Yorker should have to fear losing access to health care — and no nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits or less dignity for doing lifesaving work. Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable.”

“They must bargain in superb faith, and they must arrive at a deal that is satisfactory to all, that allows the nurses who work in this city to live in this city,” Mamdani furthered.

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In a headlines conference with the Mayor, New York Attorney General Letitia James echoed the line, according to reports and noted, “Health care workers are being stretched to their limits, and as workplace violence in hospitals is on the rise, nurses are asking simply for the basics.”

With inputs from agencies

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