Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, plan to hold a one-day strike Oct. 25 at University Medical Center in New Orleans.
Four things to know:
1. The union represents nearly 600 nurses at the hospital, including registered nurses and nurse practitioners, according to NNOC/NNU. University Medical Center, part of LCMC Health, has 2,779 employees total.
2. Union members voted to authorize a strike on the weekend of Oct. 12-13. The union and hospital began negotiating a new labor contract in March, according to NNOC/NNU. John Nickens, president and CEO of UMC, said in a statement that the hospital remains committed to the bargaining process and reaching a contract "that allows UMC to attract and retain outstanding nurses and continue to deliver exceptional care to our patients and community."
3. The union contends that since bargaining began, UMC management has refused to make meaningful responses to nurses' proposals on issues such as workplace violence and safe staffing. To retain experienced nurses, "management must implement common-sense strategies, such as supporting victims of workplace violence or providing us with adequate staffing to address the needs of our patients in a timely fashion," Heidi Tujague, RN, said in an Oct. 14 NNOC/NNU news release.
4. "The decision by union leaders to strike is not surprising given recent events but is nonetheless a significant disappointment," Mr. Nickens said. "... Please know, our commitment and ability to care for our patients and their families will be unaffected by the union's actions."