Nurses REJECT 12% Raise — What’s Really Happening?

Union leadership faces a stunning rebuke as nurses reject their own organization’s endorsed contract, exposing a dangerous fracture between labor bosses and the workers they claim to represent.

Story Snapshot

Over 10,000 nurses at Mount Sinai and Montefiore approved new three-year contracts ending their five-week strike, while 4,200 NewYork-Presbyterian nurses rejected a similar deal
NYSNA union leadership endorsed a mediator’s proposal that the elected negotiating committee at NewYork-Presbyterian had already rejected, creating internal conflict
NewYork-Presbyterian nurses prioritized contractual protections like expedited arbitration over wage increases, rejecting a 12% pay raise over three years
The split outcome reveals tensions between top-down union decision-making and grassroots member priorities in America’s healthcare workforce

Split Decision Exposes Union Leadership Disconnect

Nurses at Mount Sinai and Montefiore hospitals voted February 11 to ratify new three-year contracts, ending a strike that began January 12 and affected over 10,000 healthcare workers. The agreements include 4% annual wage increases, enhanced workplace violence protections, and 65 additional nursing positions. Mount Sinai CEO Brendan Carr emphasized healing and shared mission following the agreement. However, approximately 4,200 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian simultaneously rejected a mediator’s proposal that union leadership had endorsed, choosing to continue their strike into at least day 32.

Grassroots Rebellion Against Union Bosses

The NewYork-Presbyterian rejection represents a significant breakdown between NYSNA leadership and rank-and-file members. Union President Nancy Hagans endorsed the mediator’s proposal despite the elected negotiating committee at NewYork-Presbyterian having previously rejected it. Jennifer Lynch, a nurse practitioner and executive committee member, explained that the proposal failed to address core demands, particularly the absence of expedited arbitration language for understaffing complaints. This protection was secured by Mount Sinai and Montefiore nurses in a 2023 strike, establishing it as a critical precedent that NewYork-Presbyterian nurses demanded for themselves.

Contractual Protections Trump Pay Increases

NewYork-Presbyterian nurses rejected a 12% salary increase over three years, demonstrating that compensation alone proves insufficient without structural workplace protections. The rejected proposal mirrored wage increases accepted at Mount Sinai and Montefiore but apparently lacked enforceable safe-staffing standards and expedited arbitration procedures for understaffing complaints. This reveals a fundamental shift in healthcare worker priorities: contractual enforcement mechanisms that guarantee patient safety ratios and provide recourse against management decisions now outweigh pure monetary compensation. The nurses’ willingness to reject their own leadership’s recommendation and continue striking during harsh winter conditions underscores their commitment to these structural protections.

Healthcare System Faces Continued Disruption

Mount Sinai and Montefiore nurses returned to work Saturday, February 15, restoring full staffing at those facilities after approximately 30 days of operational strain. NewYork-Presbyterian, however, continues facing significant disruption with 4,200 nurses absent and patient care services compromised. The hospital expressed disappointment that nurses rejected a proposal management had accepted, revealing a fundamental disagreement about contract adequacy. The ongoing strike at one of New York City’s largest hospital systems maintains pressure on the metropolitan healthcare infrastructure while demonstrating nurse bargaining power and willingness to sustain extended labor action for workplace protections they consider non-negotiable.

Broader Implications for American Workers

This strike outcome raises critical questions about union representation and democratic participation in labor negotiations. When elected negotiating committees reject proposals that national leadership subsequently endorses, it suggests potential disconnect between union bureaucracy and worker priorities. The NewYork-Presbyterian nurses’ rejection despite leadership pressure demonstrates that American workers increasingly demand genuine representation rather than top-down directives. For healthcare specifically, the emphasis on enforceable staffing standards and arbitration procedures establishes these protections as industry benchmarks that may influence negotiations nationwide. The willingness to prioritize workplace safety mechanisms over immediate compensation gains reflects broader concerns about institutional accountability and worker autonomy in essential services.

Striking nurses at Mount Sinai approve new contract but ones at NewYork Presbyterian reject dealhttps://t.co/cf8B91GPds pic.twitter.com/zJrUswE75b

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 12, 2026

The bifurcated outcome—victory at two hospitals, continued struggle at a third—illustrates the complexity of modern labor relations. While NYSNA President Nancy Hagans declared the ratified contracts “hard-earned victories” proving hospitals cannot cut corners on patient care, the NewYork-Presbyterian rejection challenges that narrative. These nurses essentially stated that without structural protections matching those secured elsewhere, no wage increase suffices. This principled stand, despite significant personal financial sacrifice during the strike, demonstrates commitment to long-term workplace standards over short-term gains. As negotiations continue, the resolution will likely set precedents affecting healthcare labor relations across major metropolitan areas and potentially influence broader discussions about worker protections in critical infrastructure sectors.