At a Glance
- Nearly 15,000 nurses walked off the job at three major New York hospitals on January 12, 2026
- The union demands higher pay, safe staffing levels, benefits funding, and workplace safety protections
- Hospital officials call union demands “reckless,” claiming they include nearly 40% wage hikes and controversial staffing clauses
- Why it matters: The strike affects critical care at Montefiore, New York-Presbyterian, and Mount Sinai, forcing hospitals to rely on agency nurses
Nearly 15,000 nurses in Manhattan and the Bronx launched an unprecedented strike on January 12, 2026, halting routine care at three of New York City’s largest private hospitals.
Union Demands vs. Hospital Pushback
Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nursing Association, told News Of Losangeles that frontline nurses had no choice after “greedy hospital management at wealthy private hospitals” refused to meet core demands:
- Safe staffing ratios for patients
- Protection from workplace violence
- Fully funded healthcare for nurses
- Higher wages
The union cited a 2023 National Nurses United survey showing more than 80% of nurses experienced violence from patients or relatives within the previous year.
Hospital representatives countered that the union’s economic package totals $3.6 billion and includes wage increases approaching 40%, plus a controversial clause that would bar termination of a nurse found impaired by drugs or alcohol while on duty.
Joe Solmonese, senior vice president for strategic communications at Montefiore, told News Of Losangeles the hospital remains committed to “safe and seamless care” and characterized the union’s position as “reckless.”
Political Support and CEO Pay Scrutiny
Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the picket line outside New York-Presbyterian, wearing a red scarf bearing the NYSNA logo. He praised nurses for showing up “in every one of our city’s darkest periods,” referencing 9/11 and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mamdani labeled the three hospital groups “the wealthiest in the entire city,” noting that executives are “not having difficulty making ends meet” while multi-million-dollar CEO salaries continue to rise. He urged all parties to return to negotiations and bargain in good faith “that allows the nurses who work in this city to live in this city.”
Hospital Contingency Plans
Administrators at each affected system outlined strike protocols:
- Montefiore pledged continued operations without specifying staffing numbers
- New York-Presbyterian activated a nursing-update webpage, promised significant wage proposals, and said most appointments should proceed
- Mount Sinai deployed 1,400 qualified agency nurses and reported securing 1,000 additional specialized staff, keeping all emergency departments open
Mount Sinai added that discharge coordination and capacity management had been “tremendous” across its network and that the hospital is prepared for an “indefinite” strike.
Next Steps
No immediate timeline for renewed talks has been announced. Nurses remain on picket lines while hospitals adjust operations to maintain patient care.
