New York Nurses Continue Strike Amidst Unproductive Negotiations

Fri Jan 16 2026 22:22:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the nurses’ strike in New York City enters its fifth day, contract talks restart with major hospital systems. Little progress has been made, raising concerns about staffing ratios and working conditions.

Nurses in New York City, currently on strike for over five days, have resumed negotiations with Mount Sinai hospitals and NewYork-Presbyterian. Both sides report minimal progress on addressing staffing levels as the New York State Nurses Association seeks better conditions. Despite the strike, hospitals claim their operations are stable, thanks to temporary nursing staff.

NEW YORK (PulseWire) — New York City nurses have reignited contract discussions with another major hospital system as their strike now reaches its fifth day. The New York State Nurses Association announced on Friday that negotiations with Mount Sinai hospitals were initiated following a mediator's request.

On Thursday night, negotiations commenced with the NewYork-Presbyterian officials, marking their first talks since about 15,000 nurses walked out on the job on Monday. However, both sides stated that the lengthy meeting saw limited advancements towards resolving the strike, which is the largest in recent decades.

The hospital released a statement indicating that discussions revolved around the requests concerning staffing levels but deemed the union’s proposals ‘unreasonable.’

In contrast, the union claimed to have presented amended proposals that were swiftly dismissed without a counter-offer. Notably, talks extended beyond midnight and included participation from approximately 70 nurses after the meeting was opened to union members.

Currently, no further meetings are scheduled. NewYork-Presbyterian reiterated that they are dedicated to bargaining in good faith and ensuring safe staffing levels, boasting some of the best staffing ratios in the city.

As of now, negotiations have not resumed with Montefiore, the third major hospital system involved in the walkout. The union previously indicated expectations of a meeting with Montefiore officials, which the hospital contested, stating no meeting was on the agenda.

Each hospital is negotiating with the union separately, and not all facilities managed by the three healthcare providers are affected by the strike. Meanwhile, the hospitals claim their operations continue smoothly, effectively utilizing thousands of temporary nurses to maintain emergency and other critical services during the strike.

Dr. Philip Ozuah, president of Montefiore Einstein in the Bronx, articulated gratitude toward his staff's dedication to delivering ongoing, life-saving care amidst the current challenges.