Nurses at Mount Sinai and Montefiore began returning to work Saturday after striking on the picket line in the snow and cold for nearly a month, eventually bargaining for a new, three-year contract with hospital brass.

However, more than 4,200 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian voted to reject a tentative deal and are currently still on strike.

What You Need To Know

Nurses at Mount Sinai and Montefiore began returning to work Saturday after striking on the picket line in the snow and cold for nearly a month, eventually bargaining for a new, three-year contract with hospital brass

However, more than 4,200 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian voted to reject a tentative deal and are currently still on strike

Nurses outside Mount Sinai hugged and cheered each other on as they headed back through the doors on Madison Avenue Saturday morning

The new contract for nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Morningside and West includes safe staffing standards, increases to the number of nurses to improve patient care, health benefit protections, workplace violence protections and salary increases of more than 12% over three years, according to the nurses’ union

Nurses outside Mount Sinai hugged and cheered each other on as they headed back through the doors on Madison Avenue Saturday morning.

Many said they’re relieved and excited to be back with their patients after the largest nurses strike in New York City history.

The new contract for nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Morningside and West includes safe staffing standards, increases to the number of nurses to improve patient care, health benefit protections, workplace violence protections and salary increases of more than 12% over three years, according to the nurses’ union, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).

“It was a challenge, but it’s something that we’re proud that we did. We spoke up. As a union, and united, we will not be defeated. We are going to speak up for our labor rights, which are to have what we deserve,” Sophie Damas, a registered nurse at Mount Sinai for 19 years, said.

“Moving forward after a strike can bring a wide range of feelings: relief, uncertainty, anxiety, or all of the above. Many over the last month have faced hard conversations in public, at work, and at home. We may have differing perspectives, but we are united by our shared mission of caring for our community. I am asking you to listen with empathy, support each other with respect, and commit to our shared culture so that we can emerge stronger than before,” Dr. Brendan Carr, chief executive officer of Mount Sinai Health System, said in a statement.