Nurses at Mount Sinai and Montefiore Ratify Contracts, Strike Continues at NY-Presbyterian

The longest nurses' strike in New York City has ended for three hospital systems, but 4,500 nurses remain on strike against NY-Presbyterian.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The longest nurses' strike in New York City has ended for three hospital systems - Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, and Montefiore - after rank-and-file nurses overwhelmingly approved tentative contracts and will return to work by February 14. However, 4,500 nurses remain on strike against New York-Presbyterian after workers rejected the proposed contract.

Why it matters

The nurses' strike has been a contentious and high-profile labor dispute, with the hospitals bringing in expensive traveling nurses and PR firms to counter the nurses' demands. The strike has highlighted ongoing issues around staffing levels and patient care at many hospitals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

The approved contracts will see nurses' salaries rise approximately 4% each year. At Mount Sinai, 87% of nurses voted to ratify the contract, while 96% of nurses at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West approved it, and 86% of Montefiore nurses ratified the deal. However, 4,500 nurses at New York-Presbyterian rejected the proposed contract, and their strike continues.

  • The strike began on January 12, 2026 with nearly 15,000 nurses walking off the job.
  • Nurses will begin returning to work at the three hospital systems by February 14, 2026.

The players

NYSNA

The New York State Nurses Association, the union representing the striking nurses.

Nancy Hagans

President of the NYSNA.

Mount Sinai

A hospital system in Manhattan where nurses ratified a contract.

Montefiore

A hospital system in the Bronx where nurses ratified a contract.

New York-Presbyterian

A hospital system where 4,500 nurses remain on strike after rejecting a proposed contract.

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What they’re saying

“We believe all striking nurses deserve to see the details of their tentative agreements and get the opportunity to vote on whether to ratify a new contract.”

— Nancy Hagans, President, NYSNA (ourtownny.com)

“Nurses set out to improve patient care because every patient is a VIP. Our contracts ensure that our hospitals are safer places--through increased staffing, workplace violence protections and more.”

— Nancy Hagans, President, NYSNA (ourtownny.com)

“The past several weeks have been challenging, emotional and exhausting in different ways for all of us. Moving forward after a strike can bring a wide range of feelings: relief, uncertainty, anxiety or all of the above.”

— Dr. Brenday G. Carr (ourtownny.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the 4,500 striking nurses at New York-Presbyterian to return to work.

The takeaway

This strike has highlighted the ongoing tensions between nurses and hospital management over staffing levels and patient care, issues that have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution of the strike at three hospital systems is a positive step, but the continued impasse at New York-Presbyterian shows there is still work to be done to address nurses' concerns and ensure safe patient care.