Chicago Nurses End Strike, Prepare for Union Vote Amid Firings Dispute

Nurses Resume Duties at Chicago Hospital After Strike

Nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago have resumed their duties after participating in a one-day strike. The protest was aimed at opposing Prime Healthcare's decision to unlawfully terminate six nurses.

The strike, which saw hundreds of nurses joining the picket line on June 11, comes ahead of a crucial election scheduled for next week. The vote will determine whether the nurses will join the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), the largest nurses union in the United States.

Brenda Hernandez, a registered nurse in the ICU, remarked, "We’re glad to be back at work taking care of our patients. Yesterday’s strike was incredibly powerful. We still need Prime to reinstate our co-workers. In the meantime, we’re going to keep building momentum to our election next Wednesday."

The recent unlawful terminations at Saint Mary’s involved six nurses who were dismissed for engaging in protected union activities. The one-day walkout served as a protest against these actions.

Additionally, Prime Healthcare has faced similar accusations at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, where two nurses were also allegedly fired illegally.

Should the nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth opt to certify their union in the upcoming election on June 17, over 400 registered nurses at the Chicago facility would be represented by NNOC/NNU.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 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.

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