NYC Nurses and Hospital System Reach Tentative Deal to End Strike

More than 4,000 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian reach agreement after over a month on the picket line.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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New York City's largest nursing strike in decades is poised to end after more than 4,000 nurses seeking better staffing and job security at NewYork-Presbyterian reached a tentative contract agreement with management early Friday. The New York State Nurses Association said union negotiators and administrators at the last of three major hospital systems hit by the more than monthlong walkout approved a tentative deal, which now goes to union members for a vote. If ratified, nurses would return to work as early as next week.

Why it matters

The strike by over 10,500 nurses across three major New York City hospital systems was the largest and longest nursing walkout in the city's history. The resolution of the strike at NewYork-Presbyterian, the last holdout, marks the end of a contentious labor dispute that disrupted healthcare services and highlighted ongoing tensions over staffing levels, workplace protections, and compensation for nurses.

The details

The roughly 4,200 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian had been the last remaining on the picket line during bitterly cold temperatures. Earlier this month, some 10,500 nurses at the Mount Sinai and Montefiore hospitals ratified new three-year contracts that included pay raises of more than 12% and new protections against workplace violence. However, the NewYork-Presbyterian nurses had rejected those proposals. The strike began on January 12 at three of the city's largest private health systems.

  • The strike began on January 12, 2026.
  • Nurses at Mount Sinai and Montefiore ratified new contracts on February 11, 2026.
  • NewYork-Presbyterian nurses reached a tentative deal in the early hours of February 20, 2026.

The players

New York State Nurses Association

The union representing the striking nurses.

NewYork-Presbyterian

The hospital system where the last remaining nurses were on strike.

Nancy Hagans

President of the New York State Nurses Association.

Angela Karafazli

Spokesperson for NewYork-Presbyterian.

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What they’re saying

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative settlement with NYSNA, through the mediator, that reflects our tremendous respect for our nurses — the settlement is still subject to ratification.”

— Angela Karafazli, Spokesperson (NewYork-Presbyterian)

“For a month and a half, through some of the harshest weather this city has seen in years, nurses at NYP showed this city that they won't make any compromises to patient care. 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, President (New York State Nurses Association)

What’s next

If the tentative deal is ratified by union members, the nurses will return to work at NewYork-Presbyterian as early as next week.

The takeaway

The resolution of the nursing strike at NewYork-Presbyterian, the last holdout, marks the end of a contentious labor dispute that disrupted healthcare services in New York City and highlighted ongoing tensions over staffing levels, workplace protections, and compensation for nurses. The new contracts are expected to improve patient care and working conditions for nurses.