New York City Nurses Strike 2026: 15,000 Walk Off Job Over Staffing and Safety
Nearly 15,000 nurses started the New York City nurses strike 2026 on January 12. Demands include safe staffing and better security amid record flu hospitalizations.
The city that never sleeps just saw its hospitals go quiet. Nearly 15,000 nurses in New York City walked off the job early Monday, January 12, 2026, marking the largest labor action by nurses in the city’s history. The strike hits three major private hospital systems: Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian.
New York City Nurses Strike 2026: At the Breaking Point
According to the New York State Nursing Association (NYSNA), the standoff isn't just about pay. Nurses are demanding enforceable safe staffing ratios, protection of health benefits, and better workplace safety measures following a rise in hospital violence. The union alleges that while these non-profit hospitals reported massive profits in 2024—including $547 million at NewYork-Presbyterian—they’re trying to cut nurse healthcare coverage.
The fact that the people who provide healthcare need to be asking for healthcare is ironic and infuriating.
A Political Firestorm for Mayor Mamdani
This strike serves as the first major challenge for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who recently took office on a progressive, pro-labor platform. Mamdani joined the picket lines on Monday, stating that the nurses' value is "not negotiable." Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is facing pressure to intervene as the city battles a severe flu season, where emergency room visits for the flu peaked at 9% late last month.
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