Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News / Getty Images
A significant development has emerged in the two-week-long nurses strike affecting New York City hospitals, as union leaders announced an agreement on maintaining health benefits at two of the three affected medical facilities.
The New York State Nurses Association, representing nearly 15,000 striking nurses, confirmed that Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian have agreed to maintain the current health benefits plan for nurses - a key sticking point in negotiations that began after contracts expired on December 31, 2025.
"Working through mediators, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian agreed to maintain the current high-quality NYSNA Plan A health coverage without cuts," the union stated. "NYSNA nurses fought and cleared a major hurdle on one of the key sticking points in bargaining."
Health benefits were not part of negotiations at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, the third hospital system involved in the strike. The hospitals have maintained they never proposed reducing healthcare benefits, with Mount Sinai suggesting they offered cost controls and NewYork-Presbyterian stating their proposal "always included health benefits that are some of the best in the nation."
Despite this progress, NYSNA emphasized that final contract agreements have not yet been reached at any of the three hospitals. The union continues to advocate for better pay, increased staffing levels, and improved workplace conditions.
Due to the winter storm affecting the region, nurses were not on picket lines Sunday or Monday, but union leaders have stated they will resume picketing on Tuesday (January 27) if no final deal is reached.
The milestone in negotiations came shortly after Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged both sides to return to the bargaining table last week. Another bargaining session is planned for January 27 at NewYork-Presbyterian.
Hospital management has reported they remain committed to the bargaining process. Meanwhile, the affected hospitals and their emergency rooms remain open with assistance from agency nurses and the New York State Department of Health.
This strike bears watching as it follows other significant healthcare labor disputes across the country. Earlier this month, 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses in California and Hawaii began striking over similar issues of staffing levels, compensation, and retirement benefits. Healthcare labor experts note that contracts at major systems like Kaiser often establish precedents that influence negotiations at other hospitals nationwide.
Both hospital management and NYSNA continue to urge New Yorkers to seek hospital care if needed during the ongoing strike.
Photo Credit: Getty Images