Chicago nurses return to work after one-day strike

Nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago returned to work on June 12 after a one-day strike over Prime Healthcare’s firing of six nurses. The nurses walked the strike line on June 11 and then went back to their regular duties at the bedside ahead of an election next week to join National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, known as NNOC/NNU.

Brenda Hernandez, an ICU nurse, said the return to work came with continued concern about the firings of co-workers. “We’re glad to be back at work taking care of our patients,” Hernandez said. “Yesterday’s strike was incredibly powerful. We still need Prime to reinstate our co-workers. In the meantime, we’re going to keep building momentum to our election next Wednesday.”

According to the press release, six nurses at Saint Mary’s were already unlawfully terminated in recent weeks. Nurses said their one-day strike was meant to protest the firings of co-workers who were punished for taking part in protected union activity.

The release also said Prime has illegally fired two nurses at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.

If nurses vote to certify their union on June 17, more than 400 registered nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth in Chicago would be represented by NNOC/NNU.

National Nurses United describes itself as the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, with more than 225,000 members nationwide. Its affiliates include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.