Tuesday, January 13, 2026- Nearly 15,000 nurses in New York City have launched the largest nursing strike in the city’s history after contract negotiations with hospital systems failed to produce a deal ahead of the Monday deadline.
The walkout came early Monday morning as nurses from major private hospitals, including Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Montefiore Medical Center, and NewYork‑Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, walked off the job when efforts to reach a new contract collapsed. The strike is organized by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and reflects deep frustration over stalled talks and unresolved concerns over staffing, safety, pay, and benefits.
Union leaders have said the strike was forced by hospitals’ refusal to agree to enforceable safe staffing ratios, fully funded health benefits for frontline nurses, and improved protections against workplace violence, issues that have persisted even after previous negotiations and a 2023 labor action.
Hospitals, for their part, argue that the union’s economic demands, including substantial wage increases and broader protections, are financially excessive and could cost billions over the coming years.
In anticipation of disruptions to patient care, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency ahead of the strike, and city leaders are working to ensure critical services remain available with temporary staff and contingency plans.
As picket lines formed at hospital entrances early Monday, the strike’s timing amid a severe flu season and stretched health system intensifies concerns about access to care.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other elected officials have voiced support for the nurses’ demands, calling the strike a crucial stand for patient safety and fair working conditions. Meanwhile, negotiations remain stalled with no immediate breakthrough, and hospital administrators continue to emphasize efforts to maintain essential care services as the historic labor action unfolds.
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