New York’s Dem Governor Fails To Avert Nurses’ Strike as Thousands Walk Out on Job

After Kathy Hochul, Democratic governor of New York City, failed to broker a deal between the nursing unions and the city’s hospitals, more than 7,000 nurses have taken part in a strike.

Negotiations had stalled over salary and staffing issues. Nurses at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, and Mount Sinai Hospital, Manhattan went on strike Monday morning. Hochul, whose team has tried to broker a contract, struck Monday morning. called For “binding arbitration” to avert the walk-off—an effort that ultimately failed.

“We have been working tirelessly with our partners in New York City to broker negotiations between the nurses and affected hospitals,” Hochul said.

Two hospitals had to be forced to move patients, reschedule and divert ambulances in order to address staff shortages. Montefiore Medical Center claimed that the strikes had reached their peak. “a sad day for New York City.”

“We remain committed to seamless and compassionate care, recognizing that the union leadership’s decision will spark fear and uncertainty across our community,” In a statement, the hospital stated.

Hochul, the New York State Nurses Association organizer of the strike, stated Hochul “should listen to frontline COVID nurse heroes.”

“Bosses have pushed us to strike by refusing to seriously consider our proposals to address the desperate crisis of unsafe staffing that harms our patients,” The union stated this in a statement.