After six long weeks, on Thurs. Feb. 19, nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) reached tentative agreements that protect nurses and patients.
For weeks, NYP dragged out the strike, refusing to come to the table while paying millions on replacement nurses, while NYSNA nurses stood out in the cold to demand better for their patients. While NYP tried to cut corners on patient care, nurses fought hard to allocate new positions to the areas they were most needed and maintained strong staffing enforcement language that holds employers accountable.
Just last week, nurses won an almost $400,000 arbitration award after tracking NYP's unsafe staffing levels for months, showing just how far NYP will go to delay and deny their staffing issues. Their new agreement will include language to help expedite these processes.
Along with their other private sector siblings, they won enforceable safe staffing standards, protected their benefits, and secured important protections against workplace violence. NYP nurses will vote today and Saturday, Feb. 21 and, if the agreement is ratified, will return to work early next week.
"The wins of our private sector nurses will improve care for patients, and their perseverance and endurance have shown people worldwide the power of NYSNA nurses."
Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, NYSNA PresidentMedia Coverage
The media has been following the strike closely:
Brooklyn Hospital Center Action
Nurses at The Brooklyn Hospital Center held a powerful action demanding immediate reinstatement of health coverage cut on Feb. 1. Nurses and families delayed important visits from routine appointments to chemotherapy.
Senator Jabari Brisport, Assembly Members Jo Anne Simon and Phara Souffrant Forrest, City Council Member Crystal Hudson, and NYSNA President Nancy Hagans joined the action in solidarity.
NYSNA Lobby Day 2026
Join NYSNA members in Albany on Tuesday, March 10 to fight for safe staffing, health equity, and more.
- Equitable state budget
- New York Health Act
- Increased reimbursement rates for safety net providers
- Protecting immigrant New Yorkers' access to healthcare
- Protection of nursing practice from outsourcing and temporary gigs
- AI regulations in healthcare
- Safe staffing law enforcement
- Fixing Tier 6 public sector pension benefits
- Improved recruitment and retention