There were protests and arrests on Day 25 of the New York City nurses strike, but also progress in negotiations on some of the key issues that remain.

Nurses rallied Thursday on Manhattan’s West Side and outside The Mount Sinai Hospital on the Upper East Side, saying the New York State Nurses Association has more to do at the bargaining table, though they are closer to a deal. 

Nurses, hospitals reach tentative agreements

NYSNA has been negotiating for over three weeks with Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, Montefiore Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Nurses said the sides agreed to artificial intelligence protections and some issues at the individual hospitals, more than a week after the union said they had another tentative deal on health care benefits, a key piece of the puzzle. 

The remaining sticking points, in addition to wages and health care benefits, are safe staffing standards to protect patients and nurse protections from workplace violence, according to the nurses. 

Arrests at Day 25 nurses strike rally

Thirteen people were arrested at a rally linked to the nurses strike outside the League of Voluntary Hospitals at 555 West 57th St., according to the NYPD. 

The rally started like many others over the last three weeks.

“We’re speaking out against these hospital executives at their home base, the Greater New York Hospital Association. Let’s hear what we think of [them],” NYSNA organizer Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez said.

The crowd responded with boos. 

“… for constantly putting profits, and their own pockets, ahead of our humane care for our patients,” Sheridan-Gonzalez said.   

Once the speakers concluded at the podium, it became clear it would be more than a rally. 

“For the first time in my life, I’m gonna deliberately break the law,” ICU nurse Jarrett Murphy said.

Nurses block building entrance 

Nurses, including Murphy, went up the stairs and blocked the entrance to the association, which assists the hospital systems in negotiations. 

“We do not want to arrest you. Please clear the entrance and let people through,” an NYPD officer said into a megaphone. 

Murphy said it was his plan all along to leave the rally in NYPD custody. 

“I know there’s a proud history of people submitting to arrest when they see something that’s wrong. And what we’ve seen over the last three and a half weeks on the strike line from this association and our hospitals has been really, really wrong,” he said. 

“We are negotiating in good faith”

Speakers at the East Side rally said they’re motivated to achieve their ultimate goal of a fair contract. 

“We are negotiating in good faith. It’s time to negotiate to give us better staffing in order to protect our patients, to protect the nurses and the patients from the workplace violence. When it comes to a patient’s care, we will not cut corners,” one speaker said. 

“There is money there. There’s money there, and all the nurses are saying is give us our fair share because we are doing the job that you asked us to do,” New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said. 

Negotiations are ongoing between the nurses union and hospitals at the Javits Center.

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