New York: As many as 14,000 nurses working at New York City’s private hospitals voted to go on strike if their demands were not met by the authorities concerned.
The aim of the strike is to protest in favor of salary hikes and benefits and to resolve the issue of the shortage of staff in hospitals.
The New York State Nurses Association conducted polls, with 99 percent of nurses voting in favor of the strike.
Contracts for nurses at twelve private hospitals, including Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and New York Presbyterian, expire on December 31.
With no final decision on a new contract, nurses have announced a strike after the contract expires.
Nurses are demanding that more recruitment should be made in the hospital, and salaries and benefits should be increased.
Nurses say that amid rising cases of Covid-19, flu and RSV, hospitals are understaffed and unable to provide adequate care to patients.
The union says hospitals have increased their fees, but have not covered hospital staffing shortages or paid nurses during the pandemic.
Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association said: “a strike would be our last option. If the hospital administration does not listen to us, we are ready to strike.”
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