NYU Langone Brooklyn Nurses Threaten to Strike

By Y.M. Lowy

Nearly 1,000 nurses at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn say they will go on strike starting March 1 if the hospital doesn’t improve staffing and offer competitive salaries.

The nurses filed a 10-day strike notice on Tuesday but could call it off if contract negotiations progress. Union officials say the hospital repeatedly violates required nurse-to-patient ratios, putting patients and staff at risk. Thousands of complaints have been filed over the past three years. NYU Langone has even been ordered to pay penalties for staffing violations, similar to Mount Sinai and Montefiore hospitals.

“The hospital has put patients and nurses at risk with its chronic understaffing,” said union leader Anne Goldman. Union leaders accuse NYU Langone of prioritizing its image over its workers, pointing to its flashy Super Bowl ad that likely cost around $8 million. Meanwhile, the hospital reported a $431 million surplus last year.

Healthcare worker strikes have become more common in NYC, with nurses at Montefiore and Mount Sinai walking out for three days in 2023. 

photo: Google Maps