A disaster emergency is in effect in New York after nearly 20,000 New York nurses walked off the job, just as flu hospitalizations reached record numbers.
In recent weeks, New York State set a record for the most flu cases and flu-related hospitalizations in one week. As hospital’s try to keep up, many are operating without nurses.
16,000 Nurses On Strike In New York
On Tuesday, the biggest nurses strike in New York City history reached it’s second day. Sixteen-thousand nurses in New York City are on strike today over a contract dispute.
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The group of nurses officially went on strike Monday, unhappy over broken-down contract negotiations. Nurses have been working without a contract since New Year’s Day and are demanding better pay and safer working conditions.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood with striking nurses on Monday, saying their contract fight is a battle for dignity and fairness when it comes to New York City’s healthcare system.
Salary Is Largest Sticking Point
The largest sticking point is salary. The nurse’s union wants a 40 percent bump.
The hospitals impacted, Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and New York-Presbyterian. Montefiore hospital accuses the union of making what the hospital calls reckless and irresponsible demands.
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The hospitals say patients won’t be impacted as travel nurses are now working.
Disaster Emergency Declared In New York
On Sunday, Gov. Hochul declared a disaster emergency over the strike.
“(The) strike of nursing personnel in Bronx, Nassau and New York counties will cause several hospitals in the State to experience severe staffing shortages, affecting the availability and delivery of care, threatening public health and safety, and the ability to provide critical care, including to vulnerable populations, at a time when there have been record-high numbers of influenza cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks.”
Mt. Sinai says they’re prepared for the strike to last an indefinite amount of time.
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