A strike at several major New York City hospitals entered its third day Wednesday, with nurses demanding increased staffing levels, better wages and stronger workplace protections.

Nearly 15,000 nurses walked out Monday at hospitals within the Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian systems.

The hospitals, in response, have hired droves of temporary nurses as both nurses and administrators have urged patients not to avoid getting care during the strike.

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 15,000 nurses are on strike at Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals

  • Nurses are demanding better patient care, higher wages and stronger workplace protections

  • Hospitals say patient care continues and have brought in temporary staff to maintain services

  • The strike includes disputes over firings, wage increases and equity for predominantly Black and Latino patients

The nurses said they are hoping to secure better care for patients and improved working conditions. Hospital leaders, however, have slammed the union’s demands.

At Montefiore, nurses claim there have been long-standing inequities in care for predominantly Black and Latino patients.

“These are Black and brown patients in our community. We are their voice. They cannot speak for themselves,” said Ana Davis, a 20-year Montefiore nurse, at a protest Tuesday.

Montefiore and other hospital systems have criticized the union’s proposals as financially unrealistic.

A spokesperson for Montefiore said the New York State Nurses Association continues “to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases.”

NewYork-Presbyterian also called the union’s wage proposals “unrealistic,” while stressing administrators are not seeking to cut health benefits for nurses, as the union claims.

The strike has been marked by tension over firings and alleged misconduct.

The union on Tuesday accused Mount Sinai of illegally firing three nurses, though the medical center claimed the individuals had sabotaged emergency preparedness drills.

The New York State Nurses Association said it filed an unfair labor practice charge against Mount Sinai on Tuesday for terminating the three nurses on the eve of the strike.

The hospitals have sought to downplay the strike’s impact, with Montefiore claiming it has “not canceled even one patient’s access to care” during the work stoppage. Mount Sinai said around 20% of its regular nurses have so far opted to remain on duty rather than join the strike line.

“This strike is designed to create disruption, but our patients are continuing to receive the care they trust us to provide,” NewYork-Presbyterian said in a statement.

The strike comes amid a severe flu season in New York, adding pressure to hospital staffing and emergency preparedness. However, the city Emergency Management Department said it hasn’t seen major impacts to patient care so far.

The union and hospital officials remain at a stalemate, with no additional bargaining sessions scheduled since Sunday.