Rush University RNs Rally for Safe Staffing Amidst Merger Concerns

Rush University Medical Center Nurses Advocate for Safe Staffing Amid Merger Talks

Registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago are set to rally on Thursday, October 22, to spotlight their staffing proposals aimed at enhancing patient safety. This event, organized by the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), affiliated with National Nurses United, highlights the ongoing negotiations for their inaugural union contract. The nurses have proposed measures to improve staffing levels, including enforceable guidelines that prioritize patient care needs, and are advocating for a significant role in decisions impacting their patients.

Nurses have expressed concerns that current staffing protocols often leave them without sufficient support to ensure safe patient care. They report being unable to take necessary breaks and facing workloads that do not properly reflect the severity of their patients' conditions, leading to an overwhelming number of patients to manage.

“Nurses come to work every day committed to giving our patients the best care possible, but we need the staffing and resources to do that,” said Keeley Binion, RN, a general medicine nurse at Rush and part of the bargaining team. “When nurses are stretched thin, unable to take their breaks, or expected to do more with less, it affects our ability to provide the care our patients deserve. We are fighting for a contract that puts safe patient care first and holds the hospital accountable to the nurses and patients who depend on it.”

Event Details:

Who: RNs at Rush University Medical Center

What: Rally for Patient Safety

When: Thursday, Oct. 22, 12:30-1 p.m.

Where: Rush University Medical Center, 1620 W. Harrison, main entrance of the hospital

This rally occurs against the backdrop of a proposed merger between Rush and Endeavor Health, which raises further questions about staffing, patient services, and working conditions. Nurses argue that the merger underscores the need for a robust first union contract with enforceable staffing safeguards that prioritize patient care over corporate interests.

“Nurses are concerned about what this proposed Rush-Endeavor merger could mean for our patients and the future of care at Rush,” commented Erika Czopkiewicz, RN, a medical-surgical float pool nurse and bargaining team member. “We've seen what can happen when hospital systems consolidate and decisions about patient care are made without the voices of bedside nurses. We cannot allow cuts in services or corporate decisions to determine the quality of care our patients receive. That's why we're fighting for a strong union contract with enforceable staffing protections that put our patients first.”

Rush nurses won their union election on May 18, 2026.

The NNOC/NNU represents over 1,800 registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, with over 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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