UMC Nurses Plan Strike Amid Stalled Contract Negotiations with Management
UMC Nurses Accuse Management of Delaying Contract Negotiations
Nurses at University Medical Center (UMC) in New Orleans have voted to potentially initiate a two-day strike. This action comes as negotiations for their initial union contract have reached an impasse. The nurses, represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), are experiencing what they describe as obstructionist tactics from UMC management.
The nurses claim that the management's lack of cooperation has hindered progress on important contract proposals, including those addressing emergency preparedness and staffing safety. These issues were highlighted during a recent mass casualty incident in New Orleans. Despite pushing for better emergency response measures, the nurses report that management has continuously blocked these efforts.
"Management only seems to want to stall progress on our contract, but our patients can’t wait," stated Shonda Franklin, an RN in the float pool and bargaining team member. "As we’ve seen recently, we need UMC to be at its best every single day for the people of New Orleans. That’s what we’re fighting for, and we will keep fighting for a strong contract that makes UMC a better place to get care and a better place to work."
"Working through a tragedy like the New Year’s attack puts our entire fight into perspective," said Dana Judkins, an RN in the trauma intensive care unit and member of the bargaining team. "We’re fighting for every patient who comes through our hospital’s doors, just like we work to take care of every one of them. Unfortunately, it seems like management is only interested in fighting us, not working with us to make UMC the best it can be."
The decision to authorize a strike was made through a vote on January 22 and 23, empowering the hospital’s bargaining council to organize a two-day strike with proper notification to UMC management.
UMC nurses joined the NNOC/NNU in December 2023, commenced their first contract negotiations in March 2024, and conducted their initial strike in October 2024, marking significant events in both New Orleans and Louisiana history. The NNOC/NNU represents close to 600 nurses at UMC.
National Nurses Organizing Committee is part of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. Other affiliates include the California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.
---
Read More USA Works News