Nurses to Rally in Hialeah for Fair Contracts Amid Stalled Negotiations

Union Nurses Set to Rally for Contract Negotiations in Hialeah

Registered nurses from Palmetto General Hospital, Coral Gables Hospital, and Florida Medical Center, associated with the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), are organizing a rally on Friday, Nov. 14, at 8:00 a.m. The demonstration, taking place at Palmetto General Hospital, comes as nurses' contracts expired on Sept. 30, 2025, and negotiations for fresh three-year agreements with Healthcare Services of America (HSA) have reached an impasse.

The healthcare facilities, previously under the stewardship of Steward Healthcare, were involved in a significant bankruptcy, impacting both the nursing staff and patient care in the local community. The rally's agenda focuses on urging the interim owners, HSA, to prioritize patient safety, offer competitive compensation to retain nurses, and ensure job security and overall well-being for staff.

"HSA has failed, up to this point, to address in any meaningful way our core demands of patient safety and employee retention," stated Lazaro Garcia, an intensive care unit RN at Palmetto General Hospital.

Who: RNs from HSA’s Palmetto General Hospital, Coral Gables Hospital, and Florida Medical Center

What: Rally for a fair new contract by NNOC registered nurses

When: Friday, Nov. 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Where: 2001 W 68th St, Hialeah, Fla. [south entrance to hospital off 68th St.]

The nurses, part of the NNOC, are advocating for contractual enhancements in 2025 that include enforceable staffing grids to boost patient safety, hourly protections, competitive wages, and better benefits.

"We nurses are ready to do what it takes to win a fair deal," commented Talaya McDermott-Harrison, RN at Florida Medical Center. "HSA has proposed takebacks at negotiations rather than creatively addressing our needs for patient safety and employee retention."

NNOC/NNU represents 1,000 nurses across the three hospitals mentioned.

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.