New York City Mayor Mamdani joins picket line as 15,000 nurses strike
The city’s new mayor backs the walkout as thousands of nurses strike over pay, staffing and workplace safety
Thousands of nurses at three major hospitals in New York City began to strike on Monday, amid a severe flu season and broader pressures on the US healthcare system.
“All parties must return immediately to the negotiating table,” Mamdani said in brief remarks. “They must bargain in good faith.”
A labour dispute is at the centre of the conflict, with workers represented by the New York State Nurses Association arguing that hospital management is threatening to cull benefits, the union said in a statement. The association says it is the largest strike by nurses in the city’s history.
Hospital management at all three systems said the decision to walk out is “reckless”, in a statement before the strike.