NEW YORK (AP) — A strike has erupted involving thousands of nurses across three prominent hospital systems in New York City, as contract negotiations have reached an impasse.
The walkout began at 6 a.m. at The Mount Sinai Hospital and its satellite campuses, alongside NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center. The New York State Nurses Association reports that about 15,000 nurses are participating.
Amid a particularly severe flu season, this strike threatens to disrupt hospital operations, potentially leading to patient transfers, canceled procedures, and diverted ambulances, while also burdening other facilities not directly involved in the dispute.
The hospitals affected are currently attempting to employ temporary nurses to cope with the staffing gap during the strike and are assuring patients that scheduled appointments will not be canceled.
Although the strike impacts multiple hospitals, each facility is engaged in separate negotiations with the nurses' union. Some hospitals in the surrounding area have successfully negotiated agreements to prevent similar strikes.
The demands from nurses vary among hospitals but major concerns revolve around staffing levels and enhancing workplace safety. The union claims that nursing workloads have become unmanageable.
Nurses have also called for improved safety measures, in light of recent violent incidents, including a man who barricaded himself in a hospital, resulting in police involvement.
Negotiations have been contentious, with the union also advocating for restrictions on the implementation of artificial intelligence in hospital settings. However, hospital representatives have stated that they are actively working to improve staffing but consider the union's financial demands excessive.
Nurses authorized the strike in a vote conducted last month. Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed their concerns regarding the strike, with Mamdani encouraging both parties to reach an agreement that would safeguard the interests of nurses and ensure continued hospital operations.
The last significant nursing strike in New York occurred just three years ago, resulting in substantial pay increases and promises for better staffing across affected hospitals.
