NYC Mayor Mamdani, US Sen. Sanders Rally with Nurses on Strike 9th Day/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders joined striking nurses outside Mount Sinai West to demand fair contracts on the ninth day of a historic walkout. With stalled negotiations and no new meetings scheduled, the union accuses hospital systems of performative bargaining. Hospitals cite economic constraints, but nurses say benefits and working conditions are under threat.
NYC Nurses’ Strike: Quick Looks
- 9th day of strike involving over 15,000 nurses
- Mayor Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders speak at rally
- Strike affects Mount Sinai, Montefiore, NewYork-Presbyterian
- Union demands fair pay and protection of health benefits
- Hospitals say union asks for 25% pay increase
- No new negotiations scheduled this week
- Nurses say talks have made little to no progress
- Taxi drivers, community groups show solidarity
- Hospitals using temporary nurses to maintain operations
- Frigid weather hasn’t stopped picket lines or public support
Deep Look: Mamdani, Sanders Join NYC Nurses on Day 9 of Historic Strike
NEW YORK — As chants of “one day longer, one day stronger” echoed through Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Tuesday morning, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders joined thousands of striking nurses outside Mount Sinai West, throwing their political weight behind what is now the largest nurse strike New York City has seen in decades.
This marked the ninth consecutive day of the walkout, which has disrupted operations across three of the city’s largest hospital systems: Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian. The strike was prompted by a contract impasse that union leaders say threatens not only wages but also critical benefits and working conditions.
“Stop the Greed,” Say Sanders and Mamdani
In fiery remarks to a cheering crowd, Senator Bernie Sanders took direct aim at what he called the “unchecked greed” of the healthcare industry.
“The people of this country are sick and tired of the greed in this health care industry,” said Sanders, referencing the multimillion-dollar salaries of hospital CEOs.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist like Sanders, urged healthcare institutions to treat nurses not only as workers but as people who deserve to thrive in the city they serve.
“Now is your time of need,” Mamdani told the crowd. “This must be a city you don’t just work in, but a city you can also live in.”
Bargaining Breakdowns: No Progress, No Talks Scheduled
Since the strike began on January 12, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) says it has met only once with each hospital system — but negotiations have yielded little movement. The union accuses hospital executives of stalling and lacking seriousness at the bargaining table.
“They offered us nothing. It was all performative,” said Jonathan Hunter, a Mount Sinai nurse and member of the union’s negotiating team.
The hospitals maintain they are negotiating independently, with mediators determining future meetings. All three — Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian — argue that the union’s demands, particularly a 25% wage hike over three years, are not financially viable.
Hospitals Cite Rising Costs, Nurses Highlight Health Risks
In a statement Tuesday, NewYork-Presbyterian claimed that NYSNA’s demands “ignore the economic realities of healthcare in New York City,” pointing to federal Medicaid cuts and rising operating costs.
However, for many nurses, the strike isn’t just about pay. It’s about access to affordable healthcare benefits — something they say is being threatened despite working on the front lines.
Nicole Rodriguez, a nurse at Mount Sinai West, shared how her autoimmune disorder and her child’s frequent illness make reliable healthcare essential.
“If my son is not well, I’m not well, and I can’t be the nurse I want to be,” Rodriguez said. “I hope management opens their eyes and gives us the healthcare we deserve.”
Hospitals insist they’ve offered to maintain current benefit levels — which they say exceed those of most private employers — but the union disputes this.
Cold Weather, Warm Support: Community Backs the Nurses
Despite frigid January temperatures, spirits remained high on the picket line. A caravan of NYC taxi drivers honked in support, and the crowd erupted in applause each time a speaker condemned hospital greed or praised the nurses’ resilience.
This show of solidarity is becoming more than just symbolic — it’s part of a broader effort by the labor movement and progressive leaders to hold hospital systems accountable.
Mount Sinai CEO Brendan Carr downplayed the disruption, stating that operations continue “normally” with the help of thousands of temporary nurses brought in to fill shifts.
“Everyone who has come to work — including many who have gone above and beyond — is helping to save lives,” Carr said in a statement to staff Monday.
What’s Next?
With no new talks scheduled, the strike may drag into a third week — with significant implications for patient care, staffing models, and the city’s broader labor landscape. Union leaders say they’re prepared for the long haul.
As Tuesday’s rally ended, Sanders and Mamdani walked the picket line shoulder to shoulder with the nurses — a signal that this fight is as much political as it is professional.
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