NYC nurses strike: 15,000 walk out over staffing, safety, AI
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 12, 2026, 21:30 IST
NYC Nursing Strike
Image credit : AP
In a dramatic showdown, thousands of New York City nurses have launched a strike following unsuccessful contract negotiations over the weekend. This action involves key healthcare facilities such as Mount Sinai Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Montefiore Medical Center.
<p>Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)</p>
Thousands of nurses in three New York City hospital systems began a strike Monday after contract negotiations failed to reach an agreement over the weekend. The walkout, involving approximately 15,000 nurses from The Mount Sinai Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Montefiore Medical Center, centers on disputes over staffing levels, workplace safety, and the use of artificial intelligence.
Nurses started walking off the job at 6 am at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. The New York State Nurses Association confirmed that about 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike.
This strike occurs during a severe flu season and could lead to patient transfers, canceled procedures, or diverted ambulances. It may also strain city hospitals not involved in the dispute as patients potentially avoid the affected medical centers.
The hospitals are hiring temporary nurses to mitigate labor shortages during the walkout. They have stated they will "do whatever is necessary to minimise disruptions." Montefiore Medical Center assured patients that appointments would be kept.
While the work stoppage is happening simultaneously across multiple hospitals, each medical center is negotiating independently with the union. Several other hospitals in the city and its suburbs recently reached deals to avoid a strike.
The nurses' demands differ by hospital, but key issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union contends that hospitals have imposed unmanageable workloads on nurses.
Nurses are also seeking enhanced security measures in the workplace. This demand follows an incident last week where a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was subsequently killed by police.
Additionally, the union wants to place limitations on how hospitals utilize artificial intelligence.
The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations assert they have been working to improve staffing levels. However, they argue that the union's overall demands are too costly.
Nurses had previously voted to authorize the strike last month.
Both New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concerns about the potential strike. As the strike deadline approached, Mayor Mamdani urged both parties to continue negotiations and reach a resolution.
“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.
The most recent significant nursing strike in the city took place just three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, which affected Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was brief, lasting three days. It concluded with an agreement that included a 19 percent pay raise over three years for nurses at those hospitals.
The 2023 strike also resulted in promised staffing improvements. However, the union and hospitals now disagree on the extent of progress made or whether the hospitals are reneging on their staffing guarantees.
Nurses started walking off the job at 6 am at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. The New York State Nurses Association confirmed that about 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike.
This strike occurs during a severe flu season and could lead to patient transfers, canceled procedures, or diverted ambulances. It may also strain city hospitals not involved in the dispute as patients potentially avoid the affected medical centers.
The hospitals are hiring temporary nurses to mitigate labor shortages during the walkout. They have stated they will "do whatever is necessary to minimise disruptions." Montefiore Medical Center assured patients that appointments would be kept.
While the work stoppage is happening simultaneously across multiple hospitals, each medical center is negotiating independently with the union. Several other hospitals in the city and its suburbs recently reached deals to avoid a strike.
The nurses' demands differ by hospital, but key issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union contends that hospitals have imposed unmanageable workloads on nurses.
Nurses are also seeking enhanced security measures in the workplace. This demand follows an incident last week where a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was subsequently killed by police.
Additionally, the union wants to place limitations on how hospitals utilize artificial intelligence.
The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations assert they have been working to improve staffing levels. However, they argue that the union's overall demands are too costly.
Nurses had previously voted to authorize the strike last month.
Both New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concerns about the potential strike. As the strike deadline approached, Mayor Mamdani urged both parties to continue negotiations and reach a resolution.
“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.
The most recent significant nursing strike in the city took place just three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, which affected Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was brief, lasting three days. It concluded with an agreement that included a 19 percent pay raise over three years for nurses at those hospitals.
The 2023 strike also resulted in promised staffing improvements. However, the union and hospitals now disagree on the extent of progress made or whether the hospitals are reneging on their staffing guarantees.