(New York) Thousands of nurses from New York’s main private hospitals, on strike for more than a month over wages and working conditions, have reached an agreement in principle with their employer, their union announced Friday.
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Around 15,000 nurses went on strike on January 12. Last week, two thirds of them had reached an agreement with their hospital groups and returned to work.
Some 4,200 nurses continued the movement. They in turn signed an agreement with the NewYork-Presbyterian group which employs them, announced the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) in a press release.
This is the city’s longest nurses’ strike in decades, according to the New York Times.
The text, which will be put to a vote by members this weekend, provides for an increase in salaries of more than 12% over three years, the union said.
The agreement concluded with the hospital group also provides for an increase in the number of nurses.
“This is a victory for the future of health care in our communities and a demonstration of the strength of workers,” said Beth Loudin, a nurse and local union official, as quoted by NYSNA.
The hospital groups affected by the strike had discharged or transferred a number of patients, canceled operations and called on temporary staff in response to the social movement.
