If you’re waking up in New York City today, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and looking for a quiet commute past a hospital, you’re probably out of luck. The strike is not over today. In fact, it's just getting started.
Roughly 15,000 nurses represented by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) are officially on their second day of a massive walkout. It’s the largest nursing strike in the city's history. If you were hoping for a quick midnight deal or a sudden breakthrough, honestly, the news from the picket lines is pretty grim. No one is budging.
Is the Strike Over Today? The Reality on the Ground
Basically, if you head toward Mount Sinai, Montefiore, or NewYork-Presbyterian right now, you aren't going to see nurses in scrubs heading for a shift. You’re going to see red hats, picket signs, and a lot of very tired, very frustrated healthcare workers.
They walked out Monday morning. Now it’s Tuesday. And as of this afternoon, there have been zero reports of successful negotiations. Actually, some of the hospitals haven’t even sat down at the table since Sunday night.
It's a mess.
Why everyone is still on the sidewalk
You might be wondering why this is happening during such a brutal flu season. New York just logged over 32,000 flu cases in a single week—the highest in decades. So why now?
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It’s not just about the money, though a 40% wage increase demand is definitely part of the friction. The real sticking points are:
- Safe Staffing: Nurses say they are being asked to handle way too many patients at once. It’s dangerous.
- Health Benefits: Ironically, some of these "wealthy" hospitals are trying to cut the health insurance of the people providing the healthcare.
- Workplace Violence: With tensions high in ERs, nurses are demanding metal detectors and better security.
Who is actually on strike right now?
It’s important to note that not every hospital in the city is affected. Some, like Northwell Health and several "safety-net" hospitals, actually managed to settle their contracts last week. They saw the writing on the wall and made a deal.
But the "big three" systems decided to hold out.
- Mount Sinai: This includes the flagship on the Upper East Side, plus Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West.
- Montefiore Medical Center: This is hitting the Bronx hard, covering multiple campuses.
- NewYork-Presbyterian: Specifically the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
If you have an appointment at one of these spots, you've probably already received a text or email. The hospitals are staying open—barely—by hiring thousands of "traveler" nurses. These are temporary replacements who are being paid a fortune to cross the picket line.
The Mayor and the Political Heat
New York’s new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, isn't exactly staying neutral. He was out there on the line yesterday with a red union scarf around his neck. He’s been pretty vocal about the fact that the CEO of Montefiore made over $16 million last year while the hospital claims it can't afford the union's demands.
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Governor Kathy Hochul even declared a state of emergency last Friday. She’s trying to keep the healthcare system from collapsing, but so far, her "encouragement" for both sides to talk hasn't done much.
The hospitals are calling the strike "reckless." The union is calling the hospitals "greedy." It's the classic labor standoff, but with people's lives in the balance.
Is the strike over today at other companies?
Sometimes people ask about other strikes when one major one hits the news. If you’re looking for updates on the WNBA players or the Louvre staff:
- The Louvre strike ended back in December.
- The WNBA players have authorized a strike, but they haven't walked off the court yet.
Right now, the New York nursing crisis is the only major work stoppage in the U.S. that's actively disrupting public services on this scale.
What happens if you need a doctor?
Look, if you have an emergency, go to the hospital. Don't wait. Both the union and the hospital admins have said that patient safety is still the priority.
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However, you should expect delays.
Ambulances are being diverted from some of the striking hospitals to other facilities like NYU Langone or Bellevue. This is putting a massive strain on the hospitals that aren't on strike. It’s a domino effect. If one ER closes its doors to new arrivals, the ER three blocks away gets slammed.
How much longer will this last?
Honestly? It could be a while.
Montefiore officials have already told the media they are prepared for a "multi-week" event. Usually, these things end when one side loses enough money or public sympathy to crack.
Mount Sinai recently fired three nurses just hours after the strike began, accusing them of sabotaging drills. The union says it was just intimidation. That kind of bad blood doesn't wash away overnight.
Actionable steps for New Yorkers today
If you’re trying to navigate the city or manage your healthcare while the strike is active, here is what you actually need to do:
- Check your portal: Log into your MyChart or hospital portal before heading to any appointment at Mount Sinai, Montefiore, or NYP.
- Call ahead: Don't just show up for a lab draw or a physical. Confirm the office is actually staffed.
- Avoid certain blocks: If you’re driving or taking the bus, avoid Madison Avenue near 100th Street (Mount Sinai) and the areas around Montefiore in the Bronx. The picket lines are massive and traffic is a nightmare.
- Use CityMD or Urgent Care: For non-emergencies, stick to urgent care centers to leave the hospital ERs open for the truly critical cases.
The strike is not over today, and it likely won't be over tomorrow. Keep an eye on local news for "tentative agreements"—that’s the phrase that will signal the end is near. Until then, the whistles and chants aren't going anywhere.