Historic New York City Nurses Strike Ends After 41 Days

Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian ratify new 3-year contract with salary increases, improved staffing, and workplace protections.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 3:04pm

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The largest nurses strike in New York City history has ended after 41 days, with the final group of striking nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian voting to ratify a new three-year contract. The contract includes salary increases of over 12%, improved safe staffing standards, protections for healthcare benefits, safeguards against artificial intelligence, and measures to address workplace violence and protect immigrant patients and nurses.

Why it matters

This strike was a major test for the labor movement and healthcare workers' ability to advocate for better working conditions and patient care. The nurses' victory sets an important precedent and demonstrates the power of collective action to drive meaningful change in the industry.

The details

Approximately 15,000 nurses went on strike on January 12 at Montefiore Health System, Mount Sinai Health System and NewYork-Presbyterian. Nurses at Montefiore and Mount Sinai reached tentative agreements on February 9 and ratified them on February 11. The final group of 4,200 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian voted on February 21 to ratify their new contract and began returning to work on February 23.

  • The strike began on January 12, 2026.
  • Nurses at Montefiore and Mount Sinai reached tentative agreements on February 9, 2026 and ratified them on February 11, 2026.
  • The final group of nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian voted to ratify their contract on February 21, 2026 and began returning to work on February 23, 2026.

The players

NewYork-Presbyterian

A major healthcare system in New York City that was impacted by the nurses strike.

New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)

The union representing the striking nurses in New York City.

Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN

President of the New York State Nurses Association.

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What they’re saying

“We are so happy with the wins we achieved, and now the fight to enforce these contracts and hold our employers accountable begins. NYSNA nurses showed what it means to advocate for patients, and this moment will go down in history as a win for our communities, in the fight for healthcare justice, and for the labor movement.”

— Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, President, New York State Nurses Association (New York State Nurses Association)

What’s next

The newly ratified contracts will now go into effect, and the nurses' unions will work to ensure the terms of the agreements are upheld by the healthcare systems.

The takeaway

This historic nurses strike in New York City demonstrates the power of collective action and the ability of healthcare workers to advocate for better working conditions and improved patient care. The nurses' victory sets an important precedent and shows that determined labor movements can drive meaningful change in the industry.