Nearly 15,000 nurses in New York have gone on strike, demanding improvements in working conditions and safety.

Thousands of nurses from three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday morning after weekend negotiations did not lead to an agreement. Approximately 15,000 nurses from Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Montefiore Medical Center are involved. The strike, which occurs during a severe flu season, could lead hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures, or redirect ambulances. The nurses are demanding improvements in staffing levels and workplace safety, citing unmanageable workloads and incidents of violence.

Although hospitals have hired temporary nurses to cover the staffing shortage, they claim that the union's demands are too costly. The Governor of New York and the city's mayor have expressed concerns about the impact of the strike, emphasizing the importance of nurses in maintaining the city's functioning. The last major nurses' strike in the city occurred in 2023 and resulted in salary increases and promises to improve staffing.