Updated October 23, 2026
2026 has been one of the busiest years for nurse strikes in the United States in a generation. Tens of thousands of nurses walked out over staffing, wages, health insurance costs and workplace violence, and most came back with contracts that included double-digit raises. As of mid-October there are no active nurse strikes, but several hospitals have strike votes on the table. Here is the full picture.
Just ended: Henry Ford Genesys (411 days)
The strike at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, Michigan, represented by Teamsters Local 332, began on September 1, 2025 and ended on October 16, 2026, after 411 days. That makes it one of the longest nurse strikes in recent US history. Nurses ratified a three-year contract with 13% raises. Return-to-work terms are still being negotiated. The core issue was nurse-to-patient ratios.
Where a strike could still happen
| Hospital | Union | Nurses | Issues | Status (mid-October) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA | Massachusetts Nurses Association | ~4,000 | Raises, cost-of-living increases, float pool | Strike set for Oct. 14 postponed. Members are voting on the hospital’s “final offer”. A new 10-day notice is needed if it is rejected. |
| Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA | SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania | ~1,500 | Staffing tied to bed count, pay, retirement | 99% strike authorization (Oct. 15). Contract extended to Oct. 30, with an informational picket on Oct. 29. |
| Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA | 1199SEIU; MNA | ~2,000 (1199SEIU); ~160 RNs (MNA) | Starting wages, staffing, health insurance | Strike authorized. No date set. |
| McLaren Lapeer Region, Lapeer, MI | Michigan Nurses Association | Not reported | Staffing cuts, safety, building conditions | 94% strike authorization (Sept. 17). Unfair labor practice charge filed. |
The biggest strikes of 2026
- Kaiser Permanente (California and Hawaii): more than 31,000 UNAC/UHCP members struck from January 26 to February 24. They won a 21.5% across-the-board raise plus staffing and retention gains.
- New York City (NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, Montefiore, Mount Sinai): described as the largest nurse strike in NYC history, beginning January 12. The NYP strike lasted 41 days. All three groups ratified three-year contracts.
- USC Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Center (Los Angeles): a seven-day strike in February, followed by a four-year contract with raises of at least 15%.
- Brigham and Women’s (Boston): a July strike followed by a lockout. Nurses returned without a contract, and talks continue.
- Other one- to five-day strikes took place in California, Nevada, Kansas, Maryland, Louisiana, Maine, Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Strikes averted with new contracts
- Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor): about 7,500 RNs and APRNs. 13.25% raises, ratios and workplace-violence protections. Ratified July 24.
- Corewell Health East (Michigan): more than 10,000 nurses with the Teamsters. A first contract with 15% raises and a staffing committee.
- UMass Memorial (Worcester, MA): about 1,800 nurses ratified a contract running to April 2028.
- Jefferson Einstein (Philadelphia): about 1,200 nurses. A three-year contract.
- North Memorial Health (Minnesota) and St. Charles Hospital (New York): contracts ratified days before strike deadlines.
Why nurses are striking
- Safe staffing: enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios, or staffing tied to the number of beds, is the most common demand.
- Pay and health insurance costs: rising premiums are eating into raises.
- Workplace violence: demands for weapons detection, security staffing and reporting protections.
- Retention: nurses are leaving even though the median RN salary is now about $97,550. See our US nursing coverage.
FAQ
Do nurses have to give notice before striking? Yes. Under federal labor law, unions at health care facilities must give at least 10 days’ notice before a strike, so hospitals can arrange patient care.
Do striking nurses get paid? Not by the hospital. Some unions provide strike funds or benefits.
Who cares for patients during a strike? Hospitals usually bring in replacement or travel nurses through strike staffing agencies, and they may move or limit admissions.
Source: Nurse.org 2026 nurse strike tracker (updated October 17, 2026), with figures as reported by unions and hospitals. We will update this page as new strikes are announced or settled.
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