Nurses Walk Out Across Manhattan and the Bronx as Contract Deadline Passes
As of Monday, January 12, 2026, nearly 15,000 union nurses walked off the job, hitting several major New York City hospitals.
This strike is being described as the biggest in the city’s history. Among the impacted are Mount Sinai sites, Montefiore facilities, and New York-Presbyterian locations.
According to amNewYork, union president Nancy Hagans said the remaining negotiations didn’t move enough over the weekend. Nurses planned staggered walkouts, with Mount Sinai nurses starting at 6 a.m. and Montefiore and NewYork-Presbyterian nurses following at 7 a.m.
The contracts expired December 31, 2025.
As we watch the events unfold, I keep thinking about the impact flu season has had on New York, and the real-life ramifications of this strike.
Outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Harlem, bundled-up nurses are chanting and cheering each other on. In a report by the Gothamist, ER nurse Donovan Carey talked about safe staffing and that nurses want metal detectors at entrances to reduce the risk of shootings. Which is a surprising request among the strike.
Union president’s take
Hagans, the union president, framed the walkout as a last resort. In the Gothamist’s report, she said that nurses wanted to keep caring for patients but felt pushed into striking.
She pointed to workplace violence, staffing standards, and concerns over health benefits, with ABC7 New York reporting that nurses’ fear for their safety on the job.
In the amNewYork report, some hospitals avoided a strike with tentative deals. This includes several Northwell sites on Long Island. These agreements included a 5% annual wage increase, new staffing language, and maintained health benefits. The important part is that nurses are set to vote on ratification.
What’s most shocking is that a report covering the Mount Sinai strike highlighted that it could last an indefinite amount of time.
The key is that hospitals are going to do what they can to minimize disruption.
On the other side of the argument, Montefiore’s Joe Solmonese, amNewYork reported, called the union’s demands reckless. He claimed that they total $3.6 billion, including nearly a 40% wage increase.
Gothamist notes Mount Sinai CEO Dr. Brendan Carr told staff the cost of contingency planning is substantial, and the system has been shifting schedules, transfers, and discharges where possible.
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared an emergency, with the Gothamist stating that the order allows clinicians from other states and Canada to practice in New York.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani also urged both sides to keep negotiating, saying city agencies were coordinating for “any and all scenarios,” ABC7 New York reported.
What should patients do now?
For anyone with an appointment right now in New York, expect possible calls and changes. Plus, don’t be shy about checking in with your provider.
Emergency rooms remain open, and both hospital leaders and the union have said patients should still seek care if they need it. Even if the lines are outside.
In the end, this isn’t just about wages, it’s about staffing, safety, and whether hospital work stays sustainable for the people doing it every day. Let’s hope a deal is made soon.
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