10,000 NYC Nurses Return to Work After Historic Strike; Thousands Stay on Picket Lines

HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) — Over 10,000 nurses from two large New York City hospital networks started coming back to their jobs on Saturday following the approval of new labor agreements, signaling a significant change in a prolonged strike that lasted almost a month. Nevertheless, the larger labor conflict remains unresolved, with more than 4,000 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian still walking the picket lines while talks are ongoing.

Nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital in East Harlem began returning to the facility early Saturday morning for their 7 a.m. shifts. Outside the hospital, union colleagues and supporters greeted them with cheers, hugs, and signs of support following weeks of picketing in cold weather.

The walkout included nurses from Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mount Sinai Morningside and West. Approximately 10,000 nurses from these facilities had been on strike since the beginning of January, according to union officials, who called it one of the biggest and longest nursing strikes in the history of New York City.

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This week, nurses approved new three-year agreements by a large majority, paving the way for their return to work and the slow resumption of regular hospital activities.

Main requests from nurses: staffing levels, workplace safety, and compensation

Nurses indicated that their main worries focused on patient safety and the environment in which they worked, especially the number of staff available. Several stated that ongoing insufficient staffing was causing exhaustion and impacting the standard of care provided.

Union representatives state that the new agreements feature binding staffing guidelines and extra nursing roles designed to enhance patient care and ease the workload for staff.

Other key demands included:

Workplace safety: Enhanced safeguards against aggression, such as increased security protocols, visitor verification processes, and protective equipment for employees.
Health advantages: Maintaining current health insurance without additional expenses.
Salary increases: A total raise of over 12% across three-year agreements, including yearly increments.
Extra time off for nurses handling court appearances related to workplace violence, along with legal assistance.
Technological safeguards: Updated language that explores the involvement of artificial intelligence within medical environments.
Worker and patient safeguards: Measures designed to shield immigrant patients and laborers, as well as enhance protections for transgender staff members in specific locations.

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Nurses began negotiating with hospital systems in the fall, eventually going on strike in January. Hospitals claimed they attempted to reconcile staffing requirements with financial constraints and patient care demands during the discussions.

CEO of Mount Sinai discusses return to work

Leadership of the Mount Sinai Health System confirmed that the agreements have been approved and detailed a step-by-step return to work. "I am happy to announce that our nurses at The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai Morningside have strongly approved new three-year contracts, concluding the almost five-week strike and starting the process of returning our nurses to their roles," stated a message from Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, MS, chief executive officer of the Mount Sinai Health System.

Carr mentioned that returning to full staffing will require some time. "Although the strike has concluded, it's crucial to recognize that the process of resuming work won't happen immediately and will continue over the next few days," he stated, noting that nurses would start coming back beginning with Saturday morning shifts and would work with managers to arrange their schedules.

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The CEO also highlighted the system's commitment to getting things back to normal and assisting employees following weeks of turmoil. "Our immediate priority is to make sure we can quickly resume regular operations," he stated. "We never forgot that our patients are always the top priority."

Montefiore did not promptly make any public remarks regarding the return of its nursing staff.

Strike continues at NewYork-Presbyterian

Even with agreements reached at three hospital systems, the strike is still ongoing at NewYork-Presbyterian. Over 4,000 nurses are still on the picket line following the rejection of a mediated offer earlier this week.

Union representatives state they are looking for new discussion dates and anticipate that talks will restart soon. In the meantime, protests remain ongoing outside NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals.

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A significant event in New York City's medical history

The strike started in early January and lasted almost five weeks, gaining nationwide attention and igniting wider discussions on staff shortages, workplace safety, and the exhaustion faced by healthcare professionals. Nurses marched outside during some of the coldest days of the season as talks were ongoing in private.

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