After eight days without food outside City Hall, New York City home care workers have paused their hunger strike—claiming a breakthrough, while making clear their fight is far from over. At a rally marking one full week of protest, workers announced that representatives from City Council Speaker Julie Menin’s office had agreed to their version of the “No More 24 Act” (Intro 303) and committed to bringing the bill to a vote by May 14. According to organizers, the bill has also been passed to Mayor Eric Adams’ office, signaling a critical next step. The announcement, made alongside the Ain’t I A Woman Coalition and Councilmember Christopher Marte, was met with celebration among workers and supporters gathered at City Hall.
The hunger strike, however, has only been paused—not ended. Workers say they are shifting their focus to a mass mobilization on May 1, International Workers’ Day, where they will continue pressing city leadership to act. They also plan to return to City Hall on May 15 to ensure the promised vote takes place. Supporters, including advocacy groups and political organizations, have rallied behind the workers, framing the moment as both a significant step forward and a test of political accountability. As one coalition representative noted, “The whole world is watching”—and workers have made clear they are prepared to escalate again if commitments are not met.
At the center of the protest are workers like Yunfang Zhang, a retired home attendant who spent over a decade working 24-hour shifts. In an interview, Zhang described the physical, emotional, and financial toll of the job—and why she felt compelled to join the hunger strike even after leaving the workforce.
Q: What led you personally to join the “No More 24” hunger strike, and what was the breaking point that made you take this step?
Yunfang Zhang: I worked 24-hour workdays for 12 years. 24-hour shifts destroyed my health and hurt my relationship with my family. Even though I am retired now, I don’t want to see it continue to other workers and the next generation. Mayor Mamdani and Speaker Menin promised to pass the No More 24 Act to end this inhumane practice. But they have been stalling the bill. This is a matter of life and death! No more delay on passing this bill. That’s why we are doing a hunger strike.
Q: Can you describe what a 24-hour workday actually looks like for a home care worker in practice—physically, mentally, and emotionally?
Yunfang Zhang: On 24-hour workdays, we take care of patients who need round-the-clock care. My patient was bed-bound. During the day, I had to clean the whole apartment, cook meals for him and carry him to the bathroom. At night, I had to turn his body every two hours and help him change diaper. I could hardly sleep. I was continuously on high alert and developed neurasthenia, along with insomnia from lack of sleep and back pain from constant lifting. Sometimes even when I was at home, I couldn’t tell if it was my home or my patient’s home and thought I was still on call.
Q: Many workers say they are only paid for part of a 24-hour shift—how has that reality impacted your financial stability and quality of life?
Yunfang Zhang: If I don’t work 24-hour shifts, my company wouldn’t assign me any shifts or allow me to collect unemployment insurance. For survival, I was forced to work these grueling shifts. I developed chronic illness including back pain and insomnia. No amount of money can buy back my health.
Q: Many people work and continue their education… How difficult is it for people in your industry to do this?
Yunfang Zhang: It’s hard for us to continue education or get a higher degree here, since many of us home attendants don’t speak much English or have a high education degree. However, getting a higher education doesn’t mean you become a better person. Many sweatshop bosses, insurance company CEOs and corrupt elected officials get high degrees, but they put profits over people and maintain violence on us. They might have read a lot, but they ignore our suffering. At the same time, we are also moved by many young students who have been supporting us.
Q: What risks or sacrifices are involved in participating in a hunger strike, and how did you weigh those against the urgency of this issue?
Yunfang Zhang: Hunger strike in front of City Hall means we don’t eat, only drink, and out in the open day and night. We also experienced the cold, wind and rain. Not eating made us feel weaker, especially in the cold weather. But all these are nothing compared to working the grueling 24-hour shifts, which put us in a continuously torturous condition akin to slow murder. One more day without a ban means one more day workers are being tortured and patients are put in danger. This must stop immediately.
Q: The movement is calling for legislation to end 24-hour shifts—what specific changes do you want elected officials to enact right now?
Yunfang Zhang: I want Speaker Menin to immediately submit the No More 24 Act (Intro 303) to a vote, no more delay!
Q: How have city and state leaders responded so far? Who supports and who doesn’t?
Yunfang Zhang: Councilmember Christopher Marte, State Assemblymember Ron Kim and State Senator Jessica Ramos have supported us for a long time. More officials have joined since the hunger strike. However, we haven’t seen Mayor Mamdani or Speaker Menin come out to support us. There has also been pressure from Governor Hochul not to bring the bill to a vote. We urge Speaker Menin to submit the bill and end the violence.
Q: What would you say to the public—especially families who rely on home care—about why ending the 24-hour workday matters?
Yunfang Zhang: 24-hour workdays put patients in danger since we cannot provide quality care. Ending them is good for both workers and patients. Splitting shifts into two 12-hour shifts means workers get rest, patients get better care, and more jobs are created. The next generation should not have to go through this violence.
While the hunger strike has paused, Zhang’s testimony reflects the stakes driving the movement. For workers and advocates, the issue extends beyond labor conditions to public health and dignity. Whether city leaders will translate mounting pressure into legislative action remains the central question—and one that workers insist cannot be postponed any longer.
Mayor Eric Adams?