Why NYC nurses went on strike in 2026

After nearly more than a month on strike, nurses across Mount Sinai, New York-Presbyterian, and Montefiore hospitals reached a contract on February 21. Forty-one days beforehand, on January 12, nearly 15,000 nurses went on strike across these three private hospitals, including nearly a dozen individual hospital locations. Nurses and local supporters showed up every day to chant, hold signs, and make noise in front of the hospitals. A contract was reached a week prior at Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospitals. Nurses at New York-Presbyterian remained on strike until a new contract was reached, unwavering in their demand for safe staffing — a term striking nurses use to refer to the ratio of patients to nurses on shift.

Since December 31, contracts for nurses in the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) had been expired at all three private hospitals. Hospital administrators were unable to promise nurses' key demands, including safe staffing ratios, workplace violence protections, safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and fair healthcare benefits.

Black-and-white photograph of nurses and supporters marching on a winter street, bundled in coats and scarves. Text overlay reads: On January 12, nearly 15K nurses went on strike across three private NYC hospitals and over a dozen individual locations — Mount Sinai, New York-Presbyterian, and Montefiore. After 41 days on strike, they reached a contract. But what were they fighting for, and what was the end result?

Hospitals, for nearly a month, were unyielding and adamant on their stance. Mount Sinai even published an entire page on their press release home featuring "myths" and "facts" about the strike — including that "A strike will get nurses more money" is a myth. The myths and facts have since been taken down.

Underlying the key demands on behalf of the striking nurses has been a heightened awareness of wealth inequality among hospital employees — especially since claims of compensation increase requests have been thrown around. Nurses reject some of the claims the hospitals have made about the demands nurses have made, including those regarding raises.

Infographic: CEO pay versus nurse pay. Text reads: At Mount Sinai, CEO Kenneth Davis's total compensation rose from $5.4M in 2020 to $7.2M before his departure in 2023 — a 35% increase. Even as a trustee, Davis received more than $7.5M in 2024. At Montefiore, CEO Philip Ozuah made nearly $17M in 2024, up from $7M in 2020 — a 125% increase. At New York-Presbyterian, CEO Steven Corwin made more than $26M in 2024, a 120% increase from 2020. Dot-plot chart showing percent change in total annual salary between 2020 and 2024: Philip O. Ozuah +57% (to ~$17M), Steven J. Corwin +120% (to ~$26M), Kenneth Davis +40% (to ~$7M), Average nurse starting salary +8%.

At Mount Sinai, previous CEO Kenneth Davis's total compensation rose from $5,349,399 in 2020 to $7,199,726 before his departure in 2023 — a nearly 35 percent increase, according to Mount Sinai's 990 filings. Even as a trustee, Davis received more than $7.5 million in 2024. That same year, the new CEO of Mount Sinai, Carr, was compensated $5,489,914.

In 2024, the Montefiore hospital CEO, Philip Ozuah, made nearly $17 million in salary, up from $7 million in 2020 — a 125 percent increase. At New York-Presbyterian, CEO Steven Corwin made more than $26 million in 2024. This is a 120 percent increase from his pay in 2020. Twenty-six million dollars is [TK] times more than the average nurse makes in one year.

Infographic using rows of illustrated nurse figures to show scale of CEO pay. Text reads: In 2024, the CEO's pay at Mount Sinai was equal to the average annual salary of 61 nurses — depicted as 61 crimson nurse icons arranged in a grid. At Montefiore, it was 137 nurses — depicted as 137 crimson nurse icons arranged in a larger grid.

Continuation of the nurse-icon infographic. Text reads: At New York-Presbyterian, it was 215 nurses — depicted as 215 crimson nurse icons filling most of the image frame.

Just a week before the end of the strike, nurses at New York-Presbyterian Hospital won more than $400,000 in financial remedies due to unsafe staffing standards and practices. For years, hospitals like New York-Presbyterian have been understaffing shifts and simply not hiring enough full-time positions, according to nurses on strike. The CEO of that hospital will make just as much money in fewer than six days in his position.

Black-and-white photograph of a nurse from behind, arms raised in triumph on a snow-lined street. A sign on their back reads 'Bring Back the Nurses.' Text overlay reads: Just before the strike ended, nurses at New York-Presbyterian won more than $400K in financial remedies for unsafe staffing practices. The CEO of that hospital will make just as much in fewer than six days. Nurses went on strike for many of the same demands in 2023 as they did in 2026. That strike lasted just three days. This one lasted forty-one.

The fact is, nurses went on strike three years ago, fighting for many of the same demands they went on strike for this time — including safe staffing improvements. That strike lasted three days. This one lasted forty-one.