In its second week, a significant strike involving nurses is still underway. On Friday, union representatives for the New York State Nurses Association revealed they’ve lowered their pay raise request to an 18% increase for nurses on strike at three Mount Sinai hospitals.
This modified request comes down from an initial demand for a 30% raise over three years. The proposed pay structure now includes a 7% salary hike in the first year, followed by 6% in the second year and concluding with 5% in the third year.
Despite the adjustment, the union remains steadfast on issues of pay equity and other staffing concerns, indicating that both parties still retain leverage in negotiations until this major strike, the largest involving nurses in the city, concludes.
Officials from Mount Sinai pointed out the complexities involved, stating there are multiple economic factors that the wage increase would impact. They committed to a careful evaluation of the union’s most recent proposal.
The hospital’s negotiators also stressed that any responses they make will be influenced by the ongoing strike’s repercussions, specifically regarding the expenditures and revenue losses faced by the employer.
As of Friday, around 15,000 nurses from Mount Sinai, Montefiore Medical Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian were on their 11th day of striking, driven by disputes over compensation, benefits, staffing, and safety conditions.
Negotiations resumed Thursday, aided by pressure from Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani, along with notable support from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Each hospital system is handling contract negotiations separately.
Initially, a nursing union representative mentioned that Mount Sinai nurses had sought a 10% raise annually for three years before retracting that demand.
The union asserted that all three hospital systems were pushing for reductions in nurses’ health benefits, something Mount Sinai representatives disputed.
“Nurses have consistently stated that while we are open to negotiating pay, we will not compromise on safety for patients or nurses,” the union indicated in a statement. “We’re ready to engage in good faith negotiations daily until we reach a contract that ensures protection for both patients and nursing staff.”
