January 12, 2026 NEW YORK — The "city that never sleeps" woke up to a healthcare system on the brink of collapse this Monday.

In what is being hailed as the largest nursing strike in New York City history, nearly 15,000 nurses have abandoned their posts at three of the city's most prestigious medical titans: Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian. As the sun rose over the Bronx and Manhattan, the rhythmic chant of picket lines replaced the usual hum of emergency rooms, signaling a scorched-earth battle between frontline caregivers and hospital executives.

The Breaking Point: "Profits Over Patients"

The walkout comes after months of high-stakes negotiations hit a brick wall late Sunday night. The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) is accusing hospital leadership of "corporate greed," alleging that executives are gutting health benefits and rolling back staffing safety rules while sitting on billions in reserves.

"Greedy hospital executives have decided to put profits above safe patient care," said NYSNA President Nancy Hagans. "Nurses were ready to bargain all night to avoid this, but management failed to deliver."

A City in "Disaster Emergency"

The scale of the disruption is so severe that Governor Kathy Hochul has officially declared a State Disaster Emergency. The executive order acts as a "glass-break" measure, allowing the state to bypass licensing laws so that clinicians from across the U.S. and Canada can be rushed into New York hospitals to fill the void.

The Fallout by the Numbers:

• 15,000: Total nurses on strike.

• 1,400: Temporary "scab" nurses flown in by Mount Sinai alone.

• 0: Non-emergency surgeries currently proceeding at affected facilities.

Mayor Mamdani’s High-Wire Act

For newly inaugurated Mayor Zohran Mamdani, this strike is the first true test of his administration. Mamdani, who swept into office on a wave of labor support, finds himself caught between his union allies and the urgent need to keep the city's ERs functioning during a brutal flu season.

"No nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits, or less dignity for doing lifesaving work," Mamdani posted on X, while simultaneously coordinating with the FDNY to divert ambulances away from strike-crippled hospitals.

The Shadow of Renee Good

The strike isn't happening in a vacuum. Tensions in the city are already at a boiling point following the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this month. Nurses have added "workplace violence protections" to their core demands, citing a recent shooting at NewYork-Presbyterian Methodist as proof that hospitals are no longer safe havens. They are demanding panic buttons, metal detectors, and a total rejection of the "militarized" atmosphere they say the Trump administration's policies have fostered.

Where to Find Care (and Where to Avoid)

If you or a loved one needs medical attention, be prepared for significant delays. The following campuses are currently under active picket lines:

• Mount Sinai: Main Campus (Upper East Side), Morningside, and West.

• Montefiore: Moses, Weiler, Hutchinson, and Children’s Hospital (Bronx).

• NewYork-Presbyterian: Columbia University Irving, Morgan Stanley Children’s, and Allen Hospital.

Hospitals warn that while ERs remain technically open, patients should expect "multi-hour waits" and potential transfers to public facilities.

Is the city doing enough to protect patients during this strike, or should the Governor force nurses back to work? Weigh in below.