Healthcare workers have participated in labor strikes across the U.S., citing concerns about staffing, patient care, working conditions and employee retention. But there are several situations where workers averted such walkouts, just days or weeks before they were scheduled to occur.
Here are eight from the last half of 2022, beginning with the most recent:
1. Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association reached tentative three-year contracts with hospital executives, averting a planned strike by 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports. Approximately 15,000 union members planned to begin a strike Dec. 11 at 15 Twin Cities and Twin Ports facilities run by Children's Minnesota, North Memorial, Allina Health, M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, Essentia Health and St. Luke's. However, the strike was canceled as nurses plan to vote on the tentative deals.
2. Members of the California Nurses Association reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente Nov. 17, averting a planned two-day strike by more than 21,000 registered nurses and nurse practitioners in Northern California. Union members were set to strike Nov. 21 and Nov. 22. They approved the tentative deal during voting that began Nov. 22 and ended Dec. 2.
3. The Valley Physicians Group, which represents Santa Clara (Calif.) County's employed physicians, podiatrists and dentists, reached a tentative agreement with the county to avert a four-day strike. Union members issued a strike notice Oct. 19 after authorizing a walkout earlier that month. The strike was set to begin Nov. 1 and continue through Nov. 4. However, both sides reached a tentative agreement Oct. 28.
4. Members of the Illinois Nurses Association and Chicago-based Howard Brown Health reached a three-year agreement, averting a strike that was set to begin Oct. 3. The union, which represents 30 nurses employed by Howard Brown Health, and Howard Brown Health, a health and social service delivery system, reached the tentative agreement Sept. 30. With the deal in place, the union agreed to recommend ratification of the contract and call off the scheduled strike.
5. Members of the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa averted a planned strike at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa represents healthcare and long-term care workers in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and home care. On Sept. 27, unionized mental health workers announced a three-day strike beginning Oct. 3 at M Health Fairview's University of Minnesota Medical Center. However, the strike was called off.
6. Members of Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West and KPC Health reached a tentative agreement, averting a five-day strike that was set to begin Sept. 26 at six Southern California facilities. The union, which represents more than 1,400 KPC Health employees, announced the deal Sept. 23.
7. University of Wisconsin Health in Madison, nurses and the union that seeks to collectively bargain on their behalf reached an agreement to avert a planned strike. The parties reached the agreement as nurses were prepared to strike from 7 a.m. Sept. 13 to 7 a.m. Sept. 16. Representatives from UW Health, Service Employees International Union Healthcare Wisconsin and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced the deal Sept. 12 following mediation by the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission and talks at the governor's mansion.
8. Members of the Service Employees International Union Local 521 reached a tentative agreement with Bakersfield, Calif.-based Kern Medical, ending a looming strike threat. On July 7, union members announced they would begin a three-day strike July 26. The strike was postponed until August and was averted due to the tentative agreement reached in late July.