🗳️ Unionization on the Rise: Nurses at U.S. Hospitals Organize for Change

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👋 Hello Nursing Community,

Nurses across the country are stepping up—joining unions, organizing strikes, and demanding changes that directly impact patient care and working conditions. These collective efforts are gaining momentum at major health systems and setting a new tone for 2025.

📣 Major Unionization Moves & Strikes

• Oregon – Providence Hospitals
  Nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) went on a six-week strike earlier this year—the largest in state history. They successfully secured contracts with up to 22% pay raises, penalties for missed breaks, and improved staffing plans.

• Connecticut – Nursing Homes/State Agencies
  Nearly 8,000 SEIU‑1199NE members almost struck recently over wages and working conditions. The action reflects a broader “strike spring” of healthcare labor activism.

• Michigan – Corewell Health
  Over 9,600 RNs voted to unionize under the Teamsters Union, marking the largest hospital union drive in the state. Nurses demanded better pay, safer staff ratios, and more support.

• Pittsburgh – UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital
  About 1,000 nurses have petitioned for an SEIU election, citing burnout, excessive workloads, and lack of breaks. UPMC previously resisted efforts, prompting growing momentum.

• New Orleans – University Medical Center
  UMC nurses have gone on strike three times since unionizing in 2023, advocating for transparent wage scales, better retention, and enhanced safety.

👀 What Nurses Are Saying

💡 Why This Matters

• Safe staffing = better patient outcomes

• Unionized nurses secure stronger pay & benefits

• Improved working conditions reduce burnout & turnover

• Healthcare unions are gaining public and interprofessional support

✅ What You Can Do

Nurses:

• Consider union membership as a tool for collective bargaining

• Form committees to identify and address key workplace issues

• Reach out to local unions (SEIU, NNU, Teamsters) for guidance

Employers & HR Leaders:

• Engage proactively with staff concerns on safety, breaks, and staffing

• Consider alternative frameworks to address burnout and retention

• Foster open communication before labor actions escalate

Policy Advocates:

• Support legislation mandating safe nurse staffing ratios

• Promote legal protections for healthcare worker union activities

• Elevate nurse voices in public healthcare policy discussions