Nurses Postpone Planned Strike, Citing Progress

NEW YORK (AP) — New York state nurses have postponed their planned strike, saying progress has been made toward a possible settlement.

The announcement was made Friday evening, affecting 10,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association working at Mount Sinai, Montefiore and New York-Presbyterian hospital systems. They had planned to strike on April 2.

Nurses say the hospitals' refusal to hire more bedside nurses forced them to care for as many as 19 patients at a time.

Negotiations on a new contract with the New York City Hospital Alliance started six months ago. The union's contract ended Dec. 31.

Progress includes movement in staffing as well as the creation of a fund to improve the hiring of additional nurses.

Talks are expected to continue Wednesday.

The association represents more than 42,000 nurses.