New York City nurses are striking for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. Negotiations remain stalled, and no meetings are scheduled between the union and the three major hospital systems impacted by the walkout.
Strike Details and Hospital Impact
Approximately 15,000 nurses from the New York State Nurses Association began striking on Monday morning. The action affects multiple campuses of three private, nonprofit hospital systems: Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian. However, not all hospitals under these systems are involved, and other private hospitals in the city have reached tentative deals to avoid strikes.
Hospital officials report that some unionized nurses are choosing to work instead of joining the picket lines. Mount Sinai noted an increase from 20% to 23% of union nurses remaining on staff from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Key Demands and Safety Concerns
The nurses' union highlights three main issues: healthcare benefits, safe staffing levels, and workplace violence. Nurses describe emergency rooms as overcrowded, with patients often left in hallways due to a lack of rooms. This makes it difficult for staff to move quickly and provide adequate care.
At a rally in the Bronx on Wednesday, nurses shared personal stories. Erika Perrotta, an emergency room nurse at Montefiore, emphasized the unacceptable conditions. Phiona Hunnigan-McFarlane, another Montefiore nurse, recounted being punched by a patient, leading to severe injuries and six months off work.
Pay Disputes and Hospital Responses
Hospitals have offered pay raises but call the union's salary demands "extreme" and "exorbitant." Montefiore claims the union's proposal would raise the average nurse salary to $220,000 in three years, while Mount Sinai says it would reach nearly $250,000. Currently, nurses at these systems earn an average of about $163,000 annually.
In response to safety concerns, Montefiore defended its security measures, citing weapons detection systems, armed police officers, and panic buttons for nurses. The hospital also criticized a union proposal that it says would protect nurses from dismissal even if impaired by drugs or alcohol on duty.
Union officials fired back, accusing the hospital of stigmatizing substance abuse issues and misrepresenting the proposal, which they describe as a non-controversial measure already used statewide.
Operational Adjustments and Patient Care
Hospitals have brought in thousands of temporary nurses to cover shifts and urged patients not to delay care. Mount Sinai reported a 25% increase in emergency department registrations since the strike began.
Before the strike, hospitals canceled surgeries, transferred patients, and increased discharges to reduce patient numbers. The strike coincides with flu season, though cases have declined after a holiday surge.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
The last major nursing strike in New York City occurred in 2023, lasting three days and affecting Mount Sinai and Montefiore. It resulted in a deal with a 19% pay raise over three years and provisions to address staffing and workload concerns. The union now alleges that hospitals are trying to backtrack on those guarantees in current talks.
With no negotiations planned and both sides entrenched, the strike shows no immediate end. City officials have not reported major issues so far, but the situation remains fluid as nurses continue to advocate for better working conditions.
