The ongoing strike by nurses in New York City has seen a significant development as hospitals have agreed to maintain health care benefits for nurses and their families. The agreement, confirmed by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), represents a crucial step in the negotiations with major facilities including Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian.
In a statement released on February 4, 2024, NYSNA highlighted that this deal addressed “a major hurdle” in their discussions. The union noted that through mediation, both Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian committed to preserving the existing high-quality NYSNA Plan A health coverage without any cuts.
While this agreement marks progress, the hospitals have yet to issue their own statements regarding the negotiations. NYSNA has emphasized that the nurses are prepared to engage in further discussions on other critical issues to finalize contract agreements, stating, “NYSNA nurses at all four hospitals are ready and willing to bargain in good faith on other priority issues to settle fair contracts whenever mediators call us back to the table.”
As the negotiations unfold, approximately 15,000 nurses continue their strike, advocating for enhanced pay, improved staffing levels, and better protections against workplace violence. The hospitals have characterized these demands as unreasonable, complicating the negotiation process.
NYSNA reported that the nurses returned to the bargaining table on February 1, 2024, but discussions did not yield a resolution by the 11th day of the strike. The association stated that the strike would persist “until we reach full tentative contract agreements that protect patient and nurse safety.” Following a severe snowstorm impacting the city, picketing is scheduled to resume on February 5, 2024.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on reaching agreements that address both the nurses’ demands and the hospitals’ positions. The outcome of these negotiations could have long-lasting implications for healthcare workers and hospital operations throughout New York City.
