Nurses involved in New York City's largest strike in decades returned to the negotiating table on Thursday with hospital administrators, aiming to resolve the significant industrial action.
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) confirmed that contract discussions recommenced with officials from the three private hospital systems affected: Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian.
The union has expressed its commitment to daily bargaining to settle the dispute, which saw approximately 15,000 nurses walk off the job on January 12. The hospitals have employed thousands of temporary staff to maintain operations.
Nurses are primarily seeking to safeguard their healthcare benefits and secure contract provisions addressing staffing levels and protection against workplace violence. The hospitals contend that the union is demanding unrealistic and unaffordable pay rises, while asserting they are not proposing to cut nurses' health benefits.
The resumption of talks follows urging from Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, both Democrats, according to the union. Mamdani spoke at a union rally on Tuesday alongside US Senator Bernie Sanders.
