NYC Safety-Net Hospitals Close to Settling Contracts While Wealthy Private Hospitals Try to Cut Healthcare for Nurses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026
Contact: Andrea Penman-Lomeli | press@nysna.org | 347-559-3169
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
NYC SAFETY-NET HOSPITALS CLOSE TO SETTLING CONTRACTS WHILE WEALTHY PRIVATE HOSPITALS TRY TO CUT HEALTHCARE FOR NURSES
NYSNA nurses rescinded 10-day strike notices at 5 safety-net hospitals after management agreed to maintain healthcare benefits for nurses
Brooklyn and Staten Island safety-net hospital nurses make major progress on contract priorities to protect patient and nurse safety
Over 16,700 nurses at 7 NYC hospitals could strike in just 6 days as management at NYC’s wealthiest hospitals continue to push cuts to healthcare and safe staffing and reject workplace violence protections
New York, NY— NYSNA nurses at 5 NYC safety-net hospitals in Brooklyn and Staten Island rescinded their 10-day strike notice after management agreed to maintain and pay for healthcare benefits for frontline nurses. Meanwhile, management at New York City’s wealthiest private hospitals continue to push for cuts to healthcare and safe staffing and refuse to agree to workplace violence protections, meaning that over 16,700 nurses at 7 NYC hospitals are still set to strike in just 6 days.
One Brooklyn Health’s Interfaith Medical Center, One Brooklyn Health’s Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center and Richmond University Medical Center convened with NYSNA nurses yesterday with support from a mediator. Although final contracts are not yet settled, NYSNA nurses rescinded strike notices at these safety-net facilities after reaching tentative agreements with management on:
- Guaranteeing and fully funding healthcare benefits for nurses.
- Stronger safe staffing and staffing enforcement with remedies.
- Protections from workplace violence.
- Protections for vulnerable patients.
- Continuing pension plans with no cuts.
- Model AI language to ensure that patients always have a real nurse at the bedside.
NYSNA nurses will be bargaining with management at these 5 safety-net facilities every day this week with the mutual goal of settling their contracts by Friday, after which NYSNA membership would vote on whether to ratify their contracts.
NYSNA President and Maimonides nurse Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN said, “Our safety-net hospitals are taking significant steps toward settling fiscally responsible contracts that protect nurses and patients, while rich private hospitals like Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian continue to throw away hundreds of millions of dollars to fight against frontline nurses. The safety-net hospitals that care for New York City’s most vulnerable patients are doing the right thing by guaranteeing healthcare benefits for nurses and agreeing to stronger safe staffing standards and protections from workplace violence. New York City’s wealthiest hospitals should follow their lead.”
NYSNA will hold a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 7 from 11:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. with NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, to provide an update on contract negotiations at the 7 remaining hospitals that could strike beginning Jan. 12 unless tentative agreements are reached. Media will have the opportunity to ask questionsat the end of the briefing.
The briefing will be recorded and distributed to members of the press who register at the link below. You must register below to attend:
https://nysna.zoom.us/meeting/register/0aq5dTfSSBuAo_ieP4Mlbg#/registration
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The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.