More than 7,000 nurses from two New York City hospitals began striking at about 6 a.m. Monday in pursuit of increased wages and improved conditions after new contracts were not agreed to Sunday night.
The New York State Nurses Association said it planned to walk out at 6 a.m. if a deal wasn’t reached, per CNN. Tentative deals were reached in recent days at seven hospitals, including two hospitals that reached deals late Sunday evening. But Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx saw the midnight deadline come and go, and now, the city faces a looming strike.
NEW YORK CITY HOSPITALS DIVERTING AMBULANCES AND CANCELING SURGERIES AHEAD OF NURSES STRIKE
According to the New York State Nurses Association, out of the more than 7,100 nurses, there would be 3,500 nurses from Montefiore and 3,600 nurses from Mount Sinai hospital that could participate in the strike. Mount Sinai and Montefiore said they had agreed to meet the wage demands of the union, CNN reported, but the union claimed that staffing levels remain the sticking point in reaching deals at the two remaining hospitals.
The expected strike caused several hospitals, including Mount Sinai, to divert ambulances from their buildings, as well as cancel some elective surgeries and even relocate patients, including babies, to other hospital systems.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) called for “binding arbitration” in a statement Sunday “so that all parties can swiftly reach a resolution.”
The NYSNA said it welcomes the governor’s support in fighting for fair contracts. “Nurses don’t want to strike. Bosses have pushed us to strike.”
#NYCNurseStrike pic.twitter.com/PZn4lyeEhG
— NYSNA (@nynurses) January 9, 2023
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said the tentative contract agreements already struck are encouraging and asked that the involved parties negotiate for however long it takes to reach an agreement. “We are simultaneously continuing to closely monitor the effect that a strike would have at the remaining handful of hospitals that have not yet reached a deal. In the event of a strike, our system will be prepared to meet the challenges.”
Adams also asked people only to call 911 if they truly need emergency care.
The strike comes as hospitals continue to deal with an onslaught of respiratory viruses, including flu, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and COVID-19.
