Nurses at Ellis and Bellevue hospitals want to go on strike.

Voting started Thursday to authorize the three-day strike. More than 600 are voting. The results will be announced next week.

The New York Nurses Association alleges unsafe staffing levels at the hospitals.

The union contract dispute between the New York Nurses Association and the hospital administration has been going on for more than a year now.

Ellis Medicine released this statement to NewsChannel 13:

“The arbitration focused on contract language surrounding staffing guidelines. These guidelines — agreed to by both parties — were never intended as mandatory ‘ratios.’ The nursing shortage is an unfortunate reality facing hospitals everywhere. Ellis is committed to safe staffing and the union’s claims to the contrary are dishonest. The ruling recognized the hospital’s extraordinary daily efforts – through recruiting, extra pay and bonuses, and supplemental staffing – to improve staffing levels throughout patient care units. Ellis is deeply disappointed by the arbitrator’s failure to apply the contract as written and intended, and is considering all options, including appeal.”