NYC Nurse Strike Breakthrough: 10,500 Nurses Set to Return After 12% Pay Deal
9 February 2026
New York
Nurses at two of New York City’s largest hospital systems have reached tentative three-year contracts that would end their participation in the city’s longest nurses’ strike on record.
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) announced on Sunday that agreements had been reached with Mount Sinai Health System and Montefiore Medical Center, covering approximately 10,500 nurses who have been on strike since 12 January.
If ratified by union members this week, the nurses are expected to return to work as early as Saturday 14 February.
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The deals include pay rises of more than 12% over the three-year term, the preservation of enforceable nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, strengthened protections against workplace violence, and the maintenance of premium-free healthcare and pension benefits for frontline staff.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans described the outcome as the result of “four weeks of determination in freezing temperatures”.
“For nearly a month, our members stood together to defend safe patient care and fair working conditions,” she said. “These tentative agreements show that when nurses unite, progress is possible.”
The strike — involving nearly 15,000 nurses across three major health systems — has been widely described as the largest and longest in New York City’s history.
While agreements have now been reached at Mount Sinai (including Mount Sinai Hospital, Morningside and West) and Montefiore (including Montefiore Einstein), approximately 4,500 nurses employed by NewYork-Presbyterian remain on strike.
Talks with NewYork-Presbyterian are continuing, with staffing levels remaining the most significant unresolved issue at that system.
What the contracts include
- Pay — Increases totalling more than 12% over three years. Specific structures vary slightly by hospital. Montefiore nurses will receive a $15,000 addition to base pay across the contract term.
- Staffing — Existing enforceable minimum nurse-to-patient ratios are preserved, with continued use of arbitration and financial penalties for non-compliance.
- Safety — Enhanced protections against workplace violence.
- Benefits — No increase in out-of-pocket costs for health insurance for frontline nurses; pension benefits maintained.
Voting on the tentative agreements is taking place between Monday 9 February and Wednesday 11 February. Union leaders have expressed strong confidence that members will ratify the deals.
The strike began after contracts expired and negotiations broke down over wages, staffing levels, health benefits and safety provisions.
Hospitals brought in large numbers of travel nurses to maintain services, while striking nurses picketed in sub-zero temperatures and snow.
The dispute attracted national attention, with public support from figures including US Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The resolution at two of the three systems marks the most significant progress since the walkout began, though full resolution of the dispute depends on the outcome of talks at NewYork-Presbyterian.
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