Prime RNs and Healthcare Workers to Strike for Safe Staffing on Sept. 3

Prime Healthcare Workers Face Retaliation Amid Labor Disputes

Prime Healthcare has recently come under scrutiny following the suspension of several registered nurses at its Chicago-area hospitals. This action, announced by the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), part of the largest nurses' union in the U.S., is seen as a retaliation against nurses advocating for patient care improvements.

At Olympia Fields Hospital in Illinois, six nurses were suspended, along with another nurse at Saint Francis Hospital in Chicago. The nurses were participating in union activities, which are protected under the National Labor Relations Act.

“Given the conditions that led nurses to organize our union at Olympia Fields, like short staffing, lack of supplies, nurses’ concerns not being acknowledged, it is particularly egregious of Prime to illegally discipline nurses in retaliation for speaking up for our patients and engaging in legally protected activities,” stated Jen Peterson, RN, from the outpatient surgery unit. “By disciplining these patient advocates, Prime is sending a message to the community that their concerns are not valid.”

Plans for a protest at Olympia Fields on Sept. 3 have been set by nurses seeking to join NNOC. Petitions for union elections have also been filed by RNs at Olympia Fields, Saint Francis, and Central Maine Medical Center.

Persistent Union Challenges

Prime Healthcare has faced similar accusations previously. This spring, six nurses were terminated at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago, leading to a strike and a subsequent decisive vote to unionize. A comparable situation unfolded at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.

On Sept. 3, approximately 2,200 nurses and healthcare professionals across four Prime hospitals in three states will stage a one-day strike. Facilities involved include West Anaheim Medical Center in California, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital, and Shasta Regional Medical Center in California. The strike addresses issues surrounding patient care and staffing, which remain unresolved in contract negotiations.

The impending strikes follow substantial authorization votes, with ample notice provided to the hospitals for patient care arrangements. Employees demand management investment in staff and agreements on contracts that ensure:

• Incentives for staff retention
• Staffing levels that meet patient needs
• Protection for nurses advocating for patients

These demands echo those of other Prime facilities’ nurses aiming to join NNOC, part of a larger movement advocating for staffing and patient care improvements within Prime Healthcare.

Chicago Strike Schedule

Strike Details

Who: Registered nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital (Chicago)

What: One-day strike to address patient care concerns and protest retaliation

When: Thursday, Sept. 3, 7 a.m. CT to Friday, Sept. 4, 6:59 a.m. CT | Rally at 10 a.m.

Where: Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital, 2233 W Division Street, Chicago, IL, 60622

Olympia Fields Protest

Who: Registered nurses at Olympia Fields Hospital and community members

What: Action to protest suspension of nurses

When: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2 p.m. CT

Where: Olympia Fields Hospital, 20201 South Crawford Ave. Olympia Fields, Ill.

Prime Healthcare's Financial Practices

Prime Healthcare's operational practices have raised concerns, including service reductions and financial allocations. Despite generating approximately $4.4 billion in revenue in 2024, and an additional $1.4 billion through its nonprofit arm, Prime has been criticized for reducing services post-acquisition and aggressive debt collection practices.

• Prime has a history of reducing services after acquiring hospitals. Notably, following its acquisition of St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois, in 2025, it ceased several key medical services, prompting legal action from the Kankakee County State’s Attorney.
• Similar service cuts occurred at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois, leading to political intervention from Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin.
• In 2026, Prime announced plans to consolidate obstetric services, affecting multiple facilities.
• Financial practices have also come under scrutiny. In 2024, Prime's nonprofit hospitals pursued over $78 million in debts from patients eligible for charity care, while making significant payments to firms associated with its CEO, Prem Reddy.

For further information on Prime Healthcare's practices, visit crimehealthcare.com.

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