Greedy hospitals are investing in outrageous paydays for executives and in untested artificial intelligence and other technologies, while putting quality patient care at risk. New York’s nurses are demanding that hospital execs put patients over profits.

According to 990 tax filings, the CEOs of New York City’s three major academic medical centers, Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian increased their total compensation, including salaries, benefits, and perks, by over 54% from 2020 to 2023. As hospitals were recovering financially from the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital CEOs accepted large increases to their pay. Montefiore’s Dr. Ozuah saw his total compensation increase by more than 120% during this time. On average, these CEOs make nearly 12,000% more than the registered nurses who are on the frontlines caring for patients.

Now, New York City’s hospitals are pushing back on their nurses who are demanding safe staffing, no more staff or service cuts that harm patient care, stronger health and safety and workplace violence protections, guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in patient care, and fair wages and benefits to recruit and retain enough nurses for quality care.

The union contracts for approximately 20,000 New York City nurses at 12 hospitals will expire on Dec. 31, 2025. New York City hospitals can afford to invest in safe patient care.

Learn more about how you can join New York’s nurses in fighting hospital greed and defending quality patient care by visiting nursescareforny.org.