On Jan. 12 almost 15,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) struck three of the wealthiest private hospital systems in New York City: Montefiore in the Bronx and Mount Sinai and New York-Presbyterian (NYP) in Manhattan. These powerful corporations hired thousands of “travel nurses,” spending an estimated $100 million on these strikebreakers.

Management at all three hospitals, but especially at NYP, completely underestimated the determination and resolve of the nurses and the sacrifices union members were willing to make to achieve core demands around staffing, safety and benefits.

Spirited picket lines at the various hospital facilities were held in brutal subfreezing weather. Marches by nurses targeted the Greater New York Hospital Association, an industry lobby group, and New York Gov. Hochul’s office. Prior to the strike, Gov. Hochul declared a health disaster emergency that allowed out-of-state strikebreakers to work without having a New York nursing license.

On Feb. 10 Montefiore and Mount Sinai nurses ratified contracts that included their critical demands regarding staffing, safety and benefits. However NYP refused to include safe staffing enforcement, and NYSNA members rejected that offer. With no strike fund and after losing their health benefits, NYP nurses held strong for almost two weeks longer.

The contracts ratified in this historic strike are a win for labor in the face of overwhelming odds. The struggle to force health care corporations to honor the terms of these agreements will continue.