Thousands of nurses go on strike in New York City

Al JazeeraEN 5 min read 100% complete by Andy HirschfeldJanuary 13, 2026 at 12:49 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Nearly 15,000 nurses in New York City began striking on Monday, January 12, 2026, at three major private hospital systems: Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian. The strike, the largest nurses' strike in the city's history, was prompted by failed contract negotiations between the New York State Nursing Association and hospital management. Nurses are demanding improved staffing ratios, better healthcare benefits, and enhanced workplace safety measures. The union claims that hospitals are threatening to cut healthcare benefits and roll back safe staffing standards, while hospitals reported significant net incomes in 2024. The strike follows previous action in 2023 and reflects ongoing concerns about understaffing exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Elected officials, including the city's new mayor, joined the nurses in support.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States 30% Zohran Mamdani 40% COVID-19 ×250% NewYork-Presbyterian ×260% Mount Sinai ×260% Montefiore ×260% New York State Nursing Association 70% New York City ×490%

Keywords

nurses strike 100% contract negotiations 80% staffing levels 70% working conditions 70% healthcare benefits 70% new york city 60% workplace safety 60% hospital systems 50% covid-19 pandemic 40%