--- title: "Maine Nurses Plan Picket to Support Striking Colleagues in Illinois" id: "news-news-national-nurses-united-4019e8e0ee0029497827d58c" canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/news/news-news-national-nurses-united-4019e8e0ee0029497827d58c" content_type: "medical_news_article" category: "Union & Workforce" source_name: "National Nurses United" source_url: "https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/central-maine-medical-center-nurses-to-hold-picket-in-solidarity-with-striking-nurses-in-illinois" published_at: "2026-09-13T14:01:00.000Z" license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use" --- # Maine Nurses Plan Picket to Support Striking Colleagues in Illinois ## Metadata & Source Attribution - **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/news/news-news-national-nurses-united-4019e8e0ee0029497827d58c - **Category:** [Union & Workforce](https://medichelpline.com/news/union-workforce.md) - **Reporting Source:** National Nurses United - **Original Source URL:** [Read Original Article](https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/central-maine-medical-center-nurses-to-hold-picket-in-solidarity-with-striking-nurses-in-illinois) - **Published At:** 2026-09-13T14:01:00.000Z ## Executive Summary & Key Highlights - Registered nurses at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) are scheduling an informational picket on September 15. - The picket stands in solidarity with nurses at Olympia Fields Hospital in Illinois, who are on strike over the suspension of several colleagues. - Three nurses at CMMC were suspended for advocating for patient care, mirroring instances at other Prime Healthcare facilities. - The CMMC nurses' union election is set for September 24, reflecting a broader push for unionization within Prime Healthcare facilities. - More than 2,800 healthcare workers nationwide will participate in various actions on the same day. ## In-Depth Reporting & Editorial Analysis ## Nurses at Central Maine Medical Center Prepare to Picket in Solidarity Registered nurses at **Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC)** in Lewiston, Maine, are organizing an informational picket on **September 15**. This action is planned to show support for their colleagues at **Olympia Fields Hospital** in Illinois, who are currently **on strike**. The Illinois nurses are protesting the suspension of six colleagues by Prime Healthcare, raising concerns about retaliation against those advocating for patient rights. ### Context of the Strike The decision to picket stems from a series of punitive measures taken against nursing staff who have voiced concerns regarding patient care under Prime Healthcare’s administration. Two of the suspended nurses in Illinois have already been terminated, and additional nurses at CMMC have faced suspension for similar reasons. In total, three nurses at CMMC have been suspended, reflecting a troubling trend of disciplinary action against healthcare professionals speaking out for patient safety. Cynthia Gahagan, an RN at CMMC, emphasized the unity among nurses at different Prime Healthcare facilities, stating, "Nurses shouldn’t have been suspended or fired for speaking up for their patients. Prime must do the right thing and reinstate all nurses." ### Nationwide Solidarity Actions Notably, this picket will not be an isolated incident. Over **2,800 nurses and healthcare workers** across several Prime Healthcare hospitals in different states will also engage in various forms of collective action on the same day. This includes sympathy strikes and informational pickets at facilities such as the **Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center** in Reno, Nevada, and the **West Anaheim Medical Center** in California. ### The Push for Unionization These events coincide with critical developments in labor organization efforts among nurses. CMMC nurses are preparing for a union election scheduled for **September 24**, where they will vote on representation by the **National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC)**, an affiliate of the larger **National Nurses United** union, which represents over 225,000 nurses nationwide. In tandem, their colleagues at Olympia Fields Hospital will hold their union election the day before, on **September 23**. Similar unionization attempts have been reported at several Prime Healthcare hospitals, including **Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital** in Chicago, where a union election was successfully initiated. The push for union representation among nurses is largely motivated by concerns regarding patient care and staffing safety in the wake of extensive personnel cuts implemented by Prime Healthcare. ### Prime Healthcare’s Controversial Practices Concerns about Prime Healthcare’s management extend beyond individual suspensions and firings. Reports indicate a systematic approach to compromising care quality through service cuts and workforce reductions, raising alarms among healthcare workers and community advocates. Recently, **U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood** criticized Prime for prioritizing profits over patient care, particularly following announcements of service consolidations across facilities in the Chicago area. Prime Healthcare’s policies have led to significant backlash, with community leaders and health care workers calling on the organization to uphold their commitments to provide necessary services. The pattern of service reductions after hospital acquisitions is part of a broader critique aimed at Prime’s operational strategies. ### Moving Forward As nurses prepare for the picket on September 15, the solidarity displayed among healthcare professionals across various states signals a growing movement advocating for **patient safety** and **worker rights**. The outcomes of upcoming union elections could set a precedent for how staff at Prime Healthcare facilities are treated in the future. Healthcare workers at CMMC and across the country continue to mobilize in a united front, insisting that safe staffing levels and adequate patient care are non-negotiable rights. As actions unfold, the attention will focus on the management’s response to these collective efforts aimed at enhancing conditions for both patients and nurses alike. ## Navigation - [← Back to Union & Workforce News](https://medichelpline.com/news/union-workforce.md) - [← All Medical News Categories](https://medichelpline.com/news.md) ## Medical & Regulatory Disclaimer > [!CAUTION] > MedicHelpline content is structured for research, educational, and professional discovery purposes. 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