(NewsNation) — Carol McGowan, a nurse with nearly 50 years of experience, explained why nearly 15,000 of her colleagues have gone on strike in New York City.
McGowan joined “CUOMO” on Tuesday as the strikes continued for a second day, stating hospitals have little care for their nursing staff or patients.
In what has become the largest nursing walkout in New York City history, nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian began their strike at 6 a.m. Monday.
The New York State Nurses Association demanded an increase in pay for nurses, safe staffing levels to improve the nurse-to-patient ratio, full health care benefits, pensions and protection from workplace violence.
“The management is refusing to talk to the union … the negotiations have broken down,” McGowan, a union member, told NewsNation.
“(We’re) worried about staffing, and worried about our pension, too. How can you take pensions away from health care workers who are taking care of people who need health care?
“They do not have any respect for nurses, and they do not really care about patient care. They don’t care about safety either.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul has urged both sides to stay at the table and negotiate, but is now preparing for a state of emergency. The state’s Department of Health will also supply staff to affected hospitals.
NewsNation affiliate PIX11 contributed to this report.