No Deal In Sight: N.Y.C. Nurses’ Strike Enters Day 3

Cover image: Nedilyn Mangune

NEW YORK CITY—The largest nursing strike in New York City history has entered its third day (as of January 14, 2026), with more than 1,000 Filipino-American nurses at the forefront of the walkout.

Representing a backbone of the city's healthcare system, these nurses are part of an estimated 15,000 health professionals from major hospital systems—Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian—who walked off the job on Monday after contract negotiations reached a deadlock.

Protesting healthcare professionals claim that management is "engaging very little and very late."

Nedilyn Santuyo-Mangune, a registered nurse at the Montefiore Medical Center, highlighted the frustration of the striking workforce.

"Management is still stalling on the priorities. The clock is ticking... we want bargaining to resume as soon as possible, but management does not want to sit down with us at the moment,” Santuyo-Mangune said in a phone interview.

She said a mediator has been facilitating more in-depth conversation between the nurses and management about their key priorities and to understand management's position.

"Our priorities are acuity-based staffing ratios, ED overcrowding and hallway patients, workplace violence protections, commitments to our immigrant communities, and a fair wage and benefit package to recruit and retain nurses," she shared.

RN Nedilyn believes that Montefiore can settle their contract if they are interested in doing so, after reportedly investing close to $1 billion into renovations and expansion over the last few years.

Hospital executives allegedly get millions in bonuses and get their names plastered throughout the state, while these same big-budget medical centers reportedly refuse to commit to provisions for safe, manageable workloads.

"We are in this together. Fight fight fight for safe patient care," Santuyo-Mangune said, referring to colleagues at the picket line, as she ask their families back home in the Philippines to pray for their cause.

New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) President Nancy Hagans faced the press on Wednesday, January 14, maintaining that the strike is expected to continue until an agreement between hospital management and the union is made.

Nurses at the picket line get support not only from fellow healthcare professionals but other workers as well. Some members of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) were seen dropping off boxes of donuts to show their support for the nurses on the third day of the protest. Passing cars were heard honking in support.