MedStar Washington Hospital Nurses Ratify New Contract for 2026-2029

In a significant development for healthcare professionals in Washington, D.C., registered nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital have ratified a new three-year contract as of January 31. This agreement, announced by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), aims to enhance patient safety and improve nurse retention.

“This contract will help MedStar nurses as we seek to provide the highest quality of care to our patients,” expressed Julia Truelove, RN. “I am so proud of the nurses who stood together as we fought so hard to get these improvements.”

Key Contract Improvements

• Enhanced workplace violence measures, including more security resources, an improved process for handling dangerous patients, and the inclusion of a registered nurse on the hospital-wide workplace violence committee.
• The introduction of technology clauses that allow for negotiations on any newly implemented technology.
• Bereavement leave now extends to grandparents.
• Staffing requirements to ensure nurses are readily available for patient care.
• Wage increases that could reach nearly 24 percent over the contract's duration.

The agreement is set to be effective from March 2026 and will last until February 2029.

Despite the successful contract negotiations, there are unresolved issues concerning allegations of wage theft that remain a point of contention between the nurses and MedStar. The DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is currently investigating claims by the nurses of systemic wage and hour violations. In a complaint filed on January 12, the nurses accused management of manipulating pay records, underpaying staff, delaying paychecks, and fostering a culture that pressures employees to work “off the clock.”

NNOC/NNU represents over 2,200 nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital.

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