A prominent hospital in New York City has accused the nurses’ union of shielding members who show up for work under the influence of drugs or alcohol, coinciding with a large-scale strike by thousands of healthcare workers on Monday.
Montefiore Medical Center, located in The Bronx, has alleged that the New York State Nurses Association initiated the strike partially because the union’s leadership is resisting stricter penalties for staff impaired by substances on the job.
“The NYSNA leadership’s insistence that a nurse should not face termination if caught working while impaired by drugs or alcohol is another instance of prioritizing their interests over patient safety,” Montefiore stated in a message shared with The Post.
This explosive allegation suggests the strike might extend for weeks, as approximately 15,000 nurses from three private hospital networks—Mount Sinai, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and Montefiore—have ceased their work duties.
Meanwhile, a post on Instagram highlighted a Brooklyn bar, Block Hill Station, which is offering a buy one, get one free beer deal to support the striking nurses advocating for patient safety and equitable staff benefits.
“Love this! Free beer!” the post enthusiastically noted, along with prayer hand emojis. “All Striking Nurses: Buy One Get One On Select Beers.”
Politicians — including Mayor Zohran Mamdani — also expressed solidarity with the striking nurses. The democratic socialist new mayor joined a NYSNA picket line outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Height.
Management and NYSNA have accused each other of being greedy in disputes over wages, benefits and staffing — with vitriol spewing from both sides.
“Unfortunately, greedy hospital executives have decided to put profits above safe patient care and force nurses out on strike when we would rather be at the bedsides of our patients,” NYSNA president Nancy Hagans said in a statement.
“It is deeply offensive that they would rather use their billions to fight against their own nurses than settle a fair contract. Nurses do not want to strike, but our bosses have forced us out on strike.”
The union had no immediate response to the claim it opposed the firing of nurses showing up to work inebriated or high.
Hagans said patients who need medical care should still go to the hospitals, emphasizing that this would not constitute crossing the picket line.
All of the hospitals have emergency contingency plans and have hired nurses via contracts to minimize disruptions and continue patient care.
“While NYSNA has told nurses to walk away from the bedside, we remain focused on our patients and their care. This strike is designed to create disruption, but we have taken the necessary steps so our patients continue to receive the care they trust us to provide,” NY-Presbyterian said in a statement.
“We have proposed significant wage increases that keep our nurses among the highest paid in the city, enhancements to their outstanding employer-funded benefits and new measures that reflect our shared commitment to safe staffing and workplace safety. However, good faith bargaining requires compromise from both sides.”
Mount Sinai, in a statement early Monday, said, “Unfortunately, NYSNA decided to move forward with its strike while refusing to move on from its extreme economic demands, which we cannot agree to, but we are ready with 1,400 qualified and specialized nurses – and prepared to continue to provide safe patient care for as long as this strike lasts.”
