Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee began a 24-hour strike Sept. 25 at Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis.
The union, an affiliate of National Nurses United, has represented nurses at the hospital since 2012, according to a Sept. 22 NNOC news release. The hospital is part of SSM Health, also based in St. Louis.
Union members voted to authorize a strike Sept. 1. The union and hospital began negotiating a new labor contract in May. Their contract expired in June. A statement on behalf of the hospital, which was shared with Becker's, said the hospital has been and is "committed to reaching an agreement that provides our nurses a strong, market competitive compensation and benefits package — while ensuring continued exceptional patient care and service at SLU-H."
The union contends that in bargaining, management has refused to address its members' concerns about patient care, safe staffing and workplace violence. "The nurses urge management to invest in nursing staff and agree to a contract that addresses nurse retention and workplace violence prevention," the union release reads.
"While we are deeply disappointed the National Nurses Organizing Committee has chosen to pull some of our nurses away from the bedside to participate in a 24-hour union strike — we remain committed to providing exceptional care to our patients and community," the hospital said in its statement.
The strike is scheduled to run until 6:59 a.m. Sept. 26.