A large contingent of Filipino nurses took part in a sweeping labor action that disrupted operations at several of New York City’s biggest hospital networks, as contract talks collapsed over pay, benefits, and staffing levels.
GMA News Online reported that more than a thousand Filipino nurses were among roughly 15,000 private hospital nurses who staged a walkout on Monday, affecting facilities under NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, and Montefiore. Ten hospitals across these systems were hit by the strike, many of them known for employing significant numbers of Filipino healthcare workers.
The protest came after negotiations between hospital management and nurses’ representatives failed to produce an agreement. Nurses argued that compensation packages and healthcare benefits had not kept pace with the demands of their work, while chronic understaffing continued to put pressure on both frontline workers and patients.
For some nurses, the dispute goes beyond wages. Lorena Vivas, an intensive care unit nurse with 20 years of experience at Mount Sinai Hospital, framed the walkout as a response to conditions inside hospitals rather than an act of disruption.
“We are here to protect the safety of patients, so we will not be complicit in their plans. If nurses are outside, people should know that something inside is wrong. Being here means we are actually protecting public safety. We are not to blame for hospitals that systematically understaff and cut benefits. We are here to fight for public safety and for healthcare benefits. In fact, we are on the side of keeping the public safe,” Vicas said.
Similar concerns were echoed at other facilities. Rosalita Feldman, a nurse at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, said staffing shortages and workplace safety were central to their demands, stressing that the issue affects both healthcare workers and those they care for.
“Our demand is safety for our nurses, which will result in safety for our patients. In some hospitals, nurses and doctors are being attacked, and it’s in the news. We want safety for ourselves, and that will mean safety for our patients. We want safe staffing, and with safe staffing comes patient safety. I’m not worried. We’re not asking for something difficult. We’re asking for our patients and ourselves to be safe at the same time,” Feldman said.
The Philippine Consulate in New York has been monitoring the situation. In a message sent by Consul General Senen Mangalile to GMA Integrated News, the consulate underscored the role Filipino nurses play in the city’s healthcare system and expressed optimism that talks would resume.
“The Consulate is proud of the skill set and work ethic of Filipino nurses working in New York hospitals. We are confident that their employers are similarly aware of the sterling qualities of our nurses. We hope these will be considered as negotiations continue and that an outcome favorable to all concerned will be reached soon,” Mangalile said.
Amid the labor action, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, citing risks to hospital operations and patient care. The declaration warned that “an imminent strike of nursing personnel will cause several hospitals in the state to experience severe staffing shortages, affecting the availability and delivery of care, threatening public health and safety, and the ability to provide critical care.”
