Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian voted Saturday to ratify a new labor agreement, formally ending a strike that had stretched on for more than a month and affected thousands of healthcare workers across the hospital system.
Over 4,000 nurses employed by the privately operated NewYork-Presbyterian network began their walkout on Jan. 12. With the contract now approved, they are expected to resume their duties in the coming days. The New York State Nurses Association, which represents the workers, announced that 93% of participating members voted in favor of the three-year deal.
Earlier this month, nurses at two other major private hospital networks, Montefiore and Mount Sinai, also concluded their strikes after reaching separate agreements with the same union.
“We are so happy with the wins we achieved, and now the fight to enforce these contracts and hold our employers accountable begins,” union President Nancy Hagans said in a statement Saturday.
In response, NewYork-Presbyterian expressed satisfaction with the resolution and anticipation of welcoming its staff back. The hospital system said the agreement “reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play as part of our exceptional care teams.”
Both management and union representatives had announced Friday that they reached a tentative accord. Rank-and-file members cast their ballots on the proposal over the course of Friday and Saturday.
According to the union, the contract includes measures aimed at improving staffing levels, wage increases exceeding 12% over three years, and protections governing the implementation of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
Union officials previously stated that roughly 15,000 nurses across Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian initially took part in the broader labor action. The strike did not extend to every facility within those systems and did not involve hospitals operated by the city.
To maintain operations during the strike, the three hospital networks hired thousands of temporary nurses, relocated certain patients, and postponed selected medical procedures. Administrators maintained that patient care, including complex operations, continued without disruption. However, some patients and family members reported delays in routine services.
Striking nurses argued that chronic understaffing had created unsafe workloads and alleged that hospital administrators sought to erode health coverage benefits. Hospital leaders rejected those accusations and characterized the union’s demands as excessive.
In 2023, nurses at certain Mount Sinai and Montefiore facilities also staged a strike, which was resolved after three days.
