Big Apple nurses on Friday officially threatened to go on their “biggest” strike in the city’s history amid a high-stakes contract dispute with a dozen hospitals.
The New York State Nurses Association union gave the hospitals 10-day notices warning that if an agreement isn’t reached, up to 20,000 nurses could go on strike Jan. 12.
“We have been bargaining for months, but hospitals have not done nearly enough to settle fair contracts that protect patient care,” said the union’s president Nancy Hagans in a statement. “Striking is always a last resort; however, nurses will not stop until we win contracts that deliver patient and nurse safety. The future of care in this city is far too important to compromise on our values as nurses.”
The union proclaimed it could be the “biggest nurse strike in New York City history.”
Hospitals that could be hit by the mega-strike include Brooklyn Hospital Center, Mount Sinai Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center.
The nurses are holding out for wage hikes of 10% a year for the next three years – a demand the hospitals’ leaders claim is unaffordable.
But the union has shot back by highlighting the hospital executives’ massive pay.
Any strike would be “irresponsible,” especially because the hospitals would have to spend tens of millions of dollars to bring in outside nurses, said Kenneth Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association.
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
“We have the greatest respect for our nurses, but this action by NYSNA leadership flies in the face of massive cuts in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act that will slash $8 billion from New York hospitals and trigger a loss of an estimated 34,000 hospital jobs statewide,” Raske said in a statement.
“Perspective is needed from NYSNA leadership. Nursing salaries today are significantly higher than those of other dedicated New York City professionals such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters.”
