Nurses Strike at New Orleans UMC; Management Locks Out Staff for 2 Days

October 25, 2024 Last updated : October 25, 2024 Editorial Staff

Nurses at New Orleans Medical Center Initiate Strike Over Patient Care Concerns

Today, registered nurses at University Medical Center (UMC) in New Orleans are conducting a one-day strike, beginning at 7 a.m. and culminating with a rally at 9 a.m. The nurses, represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), are raising concerns about patient care and safety, issues that have been central to their ongoing first contract negotiations.

This strike marks a pivotal moment for the nursing community in New Orleans. Despite the nurses' readiness to resume work post-strike, hospital management has opted to implement a two-day lockout, a move regarded by the nurses as punitive. A return-to-work march is planned for 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, to underscore the nurses' commitment to patient care.

Details of the Strike

Duration: Friday, Oct. 25, 7 a.m. to Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:59 a.m.

Rally: 9 a.m. on Friday

Location: University Medical Center, 2000 Canal St., New Orleans, La. Picketing will take place near the intersection of Canal St. and Galvez St.

Return-to-Work March

When: Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:45 a.m.

Where: University Medical Center, 2000 Canal St., New Orleans, La. The march will start at the corner of Canal St. and S. Roman St.

Expressing their resolve, Dana Judkins, an RN in the trauma intensive care unit, stated, "Nurses are at the bedside every day caring for our patients, and we're doing the same patient advocacy at the bargaining table. We decided to strike to show management we're serious about prioritizing patient care at UMC. Locking us out shows that management's priorities are trying to punish nurses for fighting for our patients."

Umer Mukhtar, an RN in the medical intensive care unit, added, "Management claims that they can't let us come back. But there's no reason we can't come back to work on Saturday. Instead, management wants to punish us for standing up and speaking out. They claim they're limited by travel nurse contracts, but if they would stop stalling and get our contract done, we wouldn't be striking at all."

Representing nearly 600 registered nurses at the facility, NNOC/NNU has been at the forefront of advocating for the nurses' rights and patient safety. Earlier in October, nurses at UMC announced their intention to strike, aligning their efforts with peers nationwide. This follows their historic decision to join NNOC/NNU last December.

Since the beginning of contract talks in March, the nurses have repeatedly rallied, notably in June, July, and September. They also provided management with advance notice of their strike.

National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union of registered nurses in the U.S., represents nearly 225,000 members across the country. Their affiliates include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.

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October 25, 2024