Nearly 15,000 nurses at major New York City hospitals went on strike on Monday, demanding more robust staffing levels, higher pay and better safety precautions.

New York City nurses at three major medical centers, citing slack progress in contract talks with hospitals, are holding to their strike threat for Monday, their union said Sunday.

The potential for a major nurses strike in New York City is growing by the minute Sunday, as hospitals and the New York State Nurses Association remain without a deal.