Historic NYC Nursing Strike Ends With 3-Year Contract Wins

The largest nursing strike came to an end on February 21, 2026, after 41 days. The 3 health systems being protested, Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Montefiore, addressed nurses’ demands and proposed a 3-year contract that was ratified by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) last Saturday.¹

Over 15,000 nurses went on strike beginning January 12 to spread awareness of the injustices they faced working under these 3 health systems. Nurses protested unsafe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, unfair health care benefits, and workplace violence that had yet to be addressed. The new contracts address these concerns.² The NewYork-Presbyterian contract, the last health system to finalize a contract, stated its commitment to improve enforceable safe staffing standards, protect nurses’ health benefits, protect nurses from workplace violence, and increase salaries, among other declarations. NYSNA nurses were excited to ratify their new contract, with an overwhelming 93% voting yes.¹

“NYSNA nurses showed what it means to advocate for patients, and this moment will go down in history as a win for our communities, in the fight for health care justice, and for the labor movement,” said Nancy Hagan, RN, BSN, NYSNA president, in a press release.¹

The nurses’ contracts at Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mount Sinai Morningside, and Mount Sinai West were ratified by the NYSNA on February 14, stating commitments nearly identical to those of NewYork-Presbyterian. All 3 contracts specify a 12% salary increase or greater over the 3-year contract. The Montefiore and Mount Sinai contracts, however, specify a 4% annual increase for 3 years.³

All 3 contracts also include safeguards against artificial intelligence; protecting, more specifically, immigrant patients and nurses; and “beating back” aggressive takeaways on health care and safe staffing enforcement.¹

“After nearly 1 month in the freezing cold, nurses are happy to get back to their patients with contracts that improve care for New Yorkers,” Hagan said in a press release. “They showed their employers and this city the lengths they would go to in order to protect their patients.”³

Nurses at hospitals under all 3 health systems fought for their rights and those of their patients, who are also affected when nurses have to work in unsafe and understaffed environments. Recent research underscores the importance of proper nurse staffing on patient outcomes, as it’s been associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality, 7- to 30-day readmission, and longer in-hospital stays.⁴

“Nurses remained strong through one of the hardest fights the labor movement has seen in this city in years and proved to employers that when you mess with nurses, you have to face the city’s entire labor movement,” said Pat Kane, RN, NYSNA executive director, in a press release.¹

Throughout the strike, nurses received a plethora of community, online, and political support from nurses at neighboring hospitals, Sen. Bernie Sanders (D, Vermont), New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Attorney General Letitia James.¹

“The support that community organizations, patients, and the public gave us kept us strong against these powerful behemoths, and in the end, we achieved wins that will improve care for New York,” Kane said.

Although the contracts address all and more of the NYSNA nurses’ demands, Hagans noted in the press release that this is not the end of their fight.

“We are so happy with the wins we achieved, and now the fight to enforce these contracts and hold our employers accountable begins,” she said.

References

1. After 41 days, the historic nurse strike ends. News release. New York State Nurses Association. February 21, 2026. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.nysna.org/press/after-41-days-historic-nurse-strike-ends

2. McCrear S. NYC nurses strike enters day 5 amid staffing, safety, and benefit disputes. AJMC^®. January 16, 2026. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/nyc-nurses-strike-enters-day-5-amid-staffing-safety-and-benefit-disputes

3. Today: nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, and West return to work after ratifying new contracts. News release. New York State Nurses Association. February 14, 2026. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.nysna.org/press/today-nurses-montefiore-mount-sinai-hospital-mount-sinai-morningside-and-west-return-work

4. Nurse staffing crisis. American Nurses Association. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-staffing/nurse-staffing-crisis/