Nurses at Children's Hospital New Orleans to Hold Press Conference on Safety

Nurses at Children's Hospital New Orleans to Hold Press Conference Addressing Concerns

Nurses from Children’s Hospital New Orleans will convene a press conference on Friday, Sept. 27, to raise awareness about patient care issues central to their unionization drive. They also plan to spotlight alleged retaliatory actions by LCMC Health against registered nurses involved in organizing with the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU).

Recently, nurses filed unfair labor practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against LCMC Health. The charges claim multiple violations of the nurses' federally protected unionizing rights. According to the nurses, over 20 colleagues have faced unwarranted disciplinary action due to their union activities.

“Our union will make our hospital a better place for our patients, their families, and our entire community,” stated Mary Marrero, RN, who has served in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s for over 30 years. “We need safe staffing and a voice for nurses— not union busting.”

Records reveal that from October 31, 2023, to December 31, 2023, LCMC spent $1.4 million on anti-union consultants to counter the union campaign by University Medical Center (UMC) nurses.

Event Details

Who: Nurses from Children’s Hospital New Orleans, faith and community leaders

What: Press conference addressing safety concerns and LCMC union busting

When: Friday, Sept. 27, 8:30 a.m.

Where: Children’s Hospital New Orleans, 200 Henry Clay Ave., near the main entrance

Emergency room RN Bianca Ziegler expressed the nurses' commitment to patient care, stating, “RNs at Children’s are committed to providing the best care for our patients, which is why we’re forming a union. Unfortunately, LCMC has responded to our organizing by harassing staff and regularly pulling us away from our patients for disciplinary meetings that disrupt patient care.”

The press conference will also feature contributions from UMC nurses, community leaders like Pastor Shawn Anglim, and United Teachers of New Orleans president Dave Cash.

NNOC/NNU, representing nearly 600 nurses at UMC, recently protested LCMC’s delay in contract negotiations. UMC nurses secured their union election victory in 2023. Both UMC and Children’s Hospital nurses demand that LCMC cease union-busting practices, negotiate in good faith with UMC nurses, and respect Children’s Hospital nurses’ rights to organize.

National Nurses Organizing Committee is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates also include California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.