UMC Nurses Demand Contract for Violence Prevention and Safe Staffing

UMC Nurses Advocate for Better Workplace Safety and Staffing

Registered nurses at University Medical Center (UMC) in New Orleans, Louisiana, will stage an informational picket on Tuesday, September 24, to push forward contract negotiations. These talks, which began in March, have faced delays due to UMC management postponing sessions and not adequately addressing proposals on crucial issues like workplace violence and safe staffing.

"Nurses are frustrated by UMC management’s inaction against the dangerous conditions we face every day," said Shonda Franklin, RN, a float pool nurse and member of the bargaining team. "Nurses are demanding a fair contract that includes solutions for workplace violence prevention and safe staffing. We need safe and sustainable conditions to provide the best care for our patients and the community we love."

UMC nurses, represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), have suggested several measures to improve safety and staffing. Their proposals include creating a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program to be enforced at all times across all units and areas, including parking structures. They also seek legal protections against retaliation for reporting unsafe conditions and measures to enhance recruitment and retention of staff. However, UMC management has so far proposed maintaining the current system.

Event Details:

What: UMC nurses informational picket and rally

When: Tuesday, September 24, 2:00 pm

Where: University Medical Center, 2000 Canal St., New Orleans, Louisiana, at the intersection of S. Galvez St. and Canal St.

Earlier this summer, UMC nurses held a speak-out in June and organized their first informational picket in July to shed light on how workplace violence affects staff morale and retention. Over 80 percent of nurses signed a letter urging UMC to support victims and prevent such incidents. Research indicates that unit-specific workplace violence prevention plans can reduce violent incidents.

During the July picket, Heidi Tujague, an emergency room RN, commented, "Too often, we are short-staffed and without systems to respond to the threat of violence. Without the guarantees of a legally binding union contract, any promises made by UMC are meaningless."

Health care workers nationwide are facing a rise in workplace violence, a situation worsened by the healthcare industry's actions during the Covid-19 pandemic. A survey by NNU revealed that most nurses have experienced workplace violence, with nearly half reporting an increase in such incidents over the past year.

NNOC/NNU represents approximately 600 nurses at University Medical Center, including registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). In December 2023, UMC nurses voted to join NNOC/NNU, becoming the first unionized private-sector hospital in Louisiana and part of the nation's largest union of registered nurses.

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