New York braces for unprecedented healthcare showdown. Twenty thousand nurses from the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the largest nurses’ union in the state, are ready to strike across 12 hospitals in all five boroughs and both Long Island counties. The work stoppage could last up to ten days and is set to begin on January 1, 2026, if a contract agreement is not reached promptly.
The stalemate follows stalled negotiations with 15 different hospital operators, a pattern already seen in the past. In 2023, healthcare staff at Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospitals walked out for four days after similar talks failed, highlighting the urgency of finding a solution.
The facilities involved include major hospitals across New York City and Long Island: BronxCare Health System and Montefiore in the Bronx; Mount Sinai and New York-Presbyterian Columbia in Manhattan; Brooklyn Hospital Center, Maimonides, Wyckoff Heights, Kingsbrook Jewish, and Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn; Flushing Hospital in Queens; University Hospital of Richmond in Staten Island; and Huntington, Syosset, and Northwell Plainview on Long Island.
Staff shortages are severe, with some nurses caring for up to 12 patients per shift, putting safety at risk. The union reports that 97% of members have authorized a strike, calling for fairer wages and improved nurse-to-patient ratios, particularly on Long Island, where facilities such as Huntington Hospital have earned multiple certifications thanks to the dedication of their staff.
Grace Silva, an ER nurse at Huntington Hospital and member of the negotiating committee, told PIX11: “We’re one the lowest paid on the island, especially here on the North Shore.”
Northwell Health, the parent company of several affected hospitals, said in a statement: “Northwell Health values and invests deeply in our nurses and the essential role they play in caring for our communities. Our hospitals are engaged in ongoing, constructive negotiations with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and have consistently bargained in good faith. Our focus remains on reaching a fair and responsible agreement that supports our nurses and ensures the continuity of high-quality, compassionate care our patients rely on.”
The union had agreed to continue negotiations until midnight on December 31, 2025, and will provide ten days’ notice in case a strike is called. Hospitals across New York and Long Island are preparing for possible disruptions, with negotiations seen as critical for the future of both staff and patients.
Source: lavocedinewyork.com
