Nurses take action as NYC strike nears second month
New York City
Bulletin: Since this article was written, nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside and West approved a contract by an 85%-96% vote and ended the strike. At New York Presbyterian, the nurses rejected the contract by more than 77% and the strike continues as of Feb. 13.
Feb. 8. Nearly a month into a historic nurses strike at three privately run hospital empires in New York City, members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) held a day of action Feb. 5 at the headquarters of the Greater New York Hospital Association. Thirteen nurses were arrested for blocking the doors while hundreds more chanted, “One day longer, one day stronger!”
Striking nurses speak out before civil disobedience action, New York City, Feb. 5, 2026. WW photo: Ellen Catalinotto
Nurses have endured almost four weeks without pay and lost health benefits, while spending hours on the picket lines in bitterly cold weather and with threats of being permanently replaced.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gave hospital management a powerful weapon against the strike by decreeing a so-called “public health emergency” that allows out-of-state strikebreakers to work without a New York State nursing license.
The 13 nurses were released hours after being arrested, some immediately reporting to the Javits Center for negotiations with the hospital management from Montefiore, Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside and West and NewYork-Presbyterian.
A NYSNA release said: “Striking nurses continue to picket at all hospital locations. Nurses intend to continue bargaining until they settle fair contracts that protect patient and nurse safety and that bring nurses back to work immediately and unconditionally.”
NYSNA continued: “Hospitals are threatening to not return nurses to work immediately, even after settling fair contracts. They have suggested they will prioritize respecting and extending their contracts with replacement workers instead of bringing back striking nurses. NYSNA nurses emphasize that the strike will not be over until all members return to work.”
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said, “NYSNA nurses continue to call out hospital greed” that “systematically disinvests in communities like the Bronx while investing in risky artificial technology, lobbying, outrageous executive pay and expensive temporary travel nurses.” They pay the strikebreaking nurses up to $10,000 per week.
NYSNA invites other unionists and community members to join their picket lines. The latest picket line times can be found at nysna.org/strike.
NYSNA notes that “35.4% of nurses are Black or African American, 10.7% Hispanic or Latinx, and 20.9% are AAPI [Asian American and Pacific Islander]. Over two-thirds of NYC nurses are women of color, and, according to the American Immigration Council, 28.2% of all registered nurses in New York state are immigrants.”
Ellen Catalinotto is a retired member of NYSNA.
