New York nurses hold out on strike: "Every day that passes we are stronger"

New York.- Thousands of nurses in the city of New York protested this Thursday for the fourth consecutive day to demand that the negotiators of the main hospitals and their state union reach an agreement that includes salary improvements and working conditions, after the talks to renew the previous agreement, which expired at the end of last year, stalled.

"We need security for the staff, a work environment that takes care of us and that we are given health benefits," explained to EFE Darla Joyner, a nurse for eight years at Mount Sinai Hospital, near the northeast corner of Central Park.

Some 15,000 professionals of the body - composed of more than 90% women according to the latest data from the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) - left their jobs last Monday to join what is already the largest strike in the sector in the history of the city. Joyner accused the hospital he works for, as well as NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital, among others, of blocking the renewal of the agreement because they allege that offering health insurance to professionals would greatly increase the costs of the centers. However, the NYSNA claims that these benefits should be protected for female workers and that their salaries should be increased to compensate for inflation, something that has not been agreed upon at the negotiating table after several months. "We fight for our patients and for safe staffing ratios. The previous agreement already includes some of these guarantees, but the hospital is trying to eliminate them," said Leah, a nurse at Mount Sinai for six years.

Optimism Ahead of Friday's Meeting

This Friday, all parties involved will return to the negotiating table with a mediator to try to end this situation.

"I don't know what to expect. I know the pressure is working. Every day that passes we are stronger. I am a little more optimistic now that we have been called back to the negotiating table," Joyner said.

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The nurse pointed out that, before the strike was organized, "nothing had been addressed regarding economic agreements or the situation of the staff": "I hope we get answers after the meeting," she confessed. Until then, it will move forward, the red tide -color with which the union is identified-, will continue to concentrate in front of its workplaces to continue demanding fair conditions. "I hope they reach an agreement, or at least a compromise, so we can get back to work and do what we do best, which is taking care of our patients," Leah declared.

Hospitals function "without issue"

Meanwhile, healthcare in hospitals continues despite the strike and professionals have urged those who need it to go to the centers despite the strike. Some, like Mount Sinai, have signed temporary contracts with thousands of nurses to cover absences during the strike. According to The New York Times, tens of millions of dollars have been spent. Jennifer Adams, a woman who went with her daughter and newborn grandson to a baby check-up, confirmed that the hospital works "without problem" and that they were able to be attended to as on other occasions. "We support the strike, but we needed to check the baby," he commented. Nurse unions from other states and even New York groups from other sectors have supported the healthcare workers. Nurses celebrate during the protests when professionals from other unions, such as bus drivers or firefighters, pass with their vehicles in front of the concentration, honking and applauding to support them. "The unity of the workers is the most important thing," Joyner noted. The sanitation workers have also received support in recent days from the city's mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who attended one of the rallies wearing the union scarf and assured in a message on X that the nurses, who "are present in the most difficult moments" deserve "fair wages, safe working conditions and dignity".