10,500 NYC Nurses Reach Tentative Deals, Strike Nears End

NEW YORK — Approximately 10,500 nurses at Montefiore Medical Center and the Mount Sinai hospital system have reached tentative contract agreements, a major breakthrough that could end weeks of picketing and labor unrest across New York City hospitals.

The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) announced that nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mount Sinai Morningside and West will vote on the proposed contracts from February 9 to 11. If ratified, the nurses are expected to return to work by February 14.

The tentative agreements come after what union leaders described as the largest and longest nurse strike in New York City history, which began on January 12 and involved nearly 15,000 nurses at its peak. Nurses braved freezing temperatures and snow while demanding safer staffing levels, better working conditions, and protections for patient care.

According to NYSNA, the proposed contracts include:

• Enforceable safe staffing standards and the hiring of more nurses

• Protection of existing health benefits

• Measures to address workplace violence

• Protections for immigrant and transgender patients and nurses

• New safeguards related to the use of artificial intelligence

• Salary increases of more than 12 percent over three years

  
  

Union leaders said the agreements represent a hard-fought victory for nurses and patients.

“For four weeks, nearly 15,000 NYSNA members held the line in the cold and in the snow for safe patient care,” said NYSNA President Nancy Hagans. “Now, nurses at Montefiore and Mount Sinai systems are heading back to the bedside with our heads held high after winning fair tentative contracts.”

NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane praised the nurses’ resilience, saying they sacrificed pay and healthcare during the strike to push for safer working conditions.

Despite the breakthrough, the labor dispute is not fully resolved. Approximately 4,200 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian remain on strike, with safe staffing levels still the key issue in negotiations.

The outcome of the ratification votes this week will determine whether thousands of nurses return to their posts and bring an end to most of the city’s historic healthcare strike.

If approved, the contracts are expected to run for three years.