New York City nurses walked out of hospitals and went on strike on Monday, January 12, in protest of “unfair labor practices.”
Nurses affiliated with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) – nearly 15,000 people, according to the organization – walked out and began picketing at 6 am on Monday, saying they are seeking improved safety measures for workers and patients, and the maintenance of health care benefits for employees.
“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections, forcing nearly 15,000 nurses out on the largest nurse strike in New York City history,” NYSNA said.
“Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits. These cuts would impact not just striking nurses at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside and West and NewYork-Presbyterian, but nearly 27,000 nurses at over 50 hospitals around the state who are enrolled in NYSNA’s health benefit plan.”
The organization held a press conference featuring words from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York Attorney General Letitia James, New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, and other government officials and labor leaders.
Video filmed by Diane Mejias shows picketers marching outside Montefiore Medical Center’s Einstein Campus in the Bronx on Monday. Credit: Diane Mejias via Storyful