--- title: "Nurses to Hold Sympathy Strike on September 15 at Prime Healthcare Hospitals" id: "news-news-national-nurses-united-c368c33b95316a94e2714653" canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/news/news-news-national-nurses-united-c368c33b95316a94e2714653" content_type: "medical_news_article" category: "Union & Workforce" source_name: "National Nurses United" source_url: "https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-to-sympathy-strike-and-picket-on-september-15-at-five-prime-healthcare-hospitals-in-four-states" published_at: "2026-09-13T14:00:00.000Z" license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use" --- # Nurses to Hold Sympathy Strike on September 15 at Prime Healthcare Hospitals ## Metadata & Source Attribution - **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/news/news-news-national-nurses-united-c368c33b95316a94e2714653 - **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/nurses-to-sympathy-strike-and-picket-on-september-15-at-five-prime-healthcare-hospitals-in-four-states) - **Published At:** 2026-09-13T14:00:00.000Z ## Executive Summary & Key Highlights - Nurses at three Prime Healthcare hospitals in California and Nevada will strike on September 15. - Strikes are in solidarity with colleagues at Olympia Fields Hospital, who are protesting nurse suspensions. - Over 2,800 nurses and healthcare workers are participating in strikes and pickets across multiple states. - Recent firings and suspensions at Prime Healthcare have raised alarm among nurses regarding patient advocacy. - Nurses claim Prime prioritizes profits over safe staffing and patient care. ## In-Depth Reporting & Editorial Analysis ## Overview of the Sympathy Strike on September 15 Registered nurses from three Prime Healthcare hospitals located in California and Nevada are organizing a **sympathy strike** on September 15. This action aims to show solidarity with nurses at Olympia Fields Hospital in Illinois, who are demanding the reinstatement of six suspended colleagues. This strike comes in response to a series of firings and suspensions affecting nurses across several Prime Healthcare facilities. ### Details of the Strike Locations and Times Three hospitals will participate in the strike: - **Shasta Regional Medical Center, Redding, California**: Nurses will strike starting at 6 a.m. on September 15 through 5:59 a.m. on September 16. - **West Anaheim Medical Center, Anaheim, California**: Striking nurses will commence at 7 a.m. on September 15 and continue until 6:59 a.m. on September 16. - **Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Reno, Nevada**: The strike here will begin at 6:45 a.m. on September 15, concluding at 6:44 a.m. on September 16. ### Rationale Behind the Strike The strike is a direct response to the actions taken by Prime Healthcare management, which has recently faced criticism for its treatment of nurses advocating for patient welfare. **Michelle Gaffney, RN**, a nurse at Shasta Regional Medical Center, voiced the determination of nurses to uphold patient rights. She stated, "Prime must stop its unlawful activities and reinstate the nurses it has suspended or fired for speaking up for patients. We will continue to demand justice for our nurses until Prime does the right thing." ### Broader Implications of the Actions Across the country, nurses are increasingly vocal about their experiences and concerns regarding the operations of Prime Healthcare. The situation at Olympia Fields, where six nurses were suspended, highlights a pattern of management’s disregard for nurses’ efforts to advocate for patient care. Reports indicate that two of the suspended nurses and one additional nurse from Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois, have already faced termination. On the same day as the sympathy strike, nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago and Central Maine Medical Center are also scheduled to hold informational pickets in support of their counterparts at Olympia Fields. In total, over 2,800 nurses and healthcare workers will either strike or participate in picketing events on September 15. ### Past Strikes and Current Climate This organizing effort follows prior strikes conducted by nurses at four Prime hospitals earlier in September. These earlier demonstrations were fueled by ongoing frustrations regarding **safe staffing** and **patient care**, as well as the treatment of nurses who speak out. The decisive action taken by nurses is being propelled by a desire for union representation, with petitions filed at facilities like Olympia Fields, Saint Francis Hospital, and Central Maine Medical Center as of August 24. This step is seen as critical for effectively addressing persistent concerns regarding their working conditions and patient safety. ### Continued Advocacy and Prime Healthcare's Practices The backdrop of these events includes ongoing grievances against Prime Healthcare for prioritizing profits over quality in patient care. For instance, on September 1, Prime announced plans to suspend obstetric services at several facilities, causing outrage from local representatives who accused the corporation of failing to uphold its commitments to community healthcare. Over the past few years, Prime has also faced backlash for closing critical services shortly after acquiring hospitals, leading to accusations regarding deceptive practices. With a history of cost-cutting that appears counterproductive to community needs, nurses fear that without organizational efforts, their jobs and patient care standards will further deteriorate. ### Conclusion The **sympathy strike** on September 15 is not merely an isolated event, but part of a larger movement by nurses to demand better treatment, safe staffing levels, and to ensure that patient care remains a priority in their working environments. As they unite across various states, the actions of these nurses exemplify their commitment to advocating for their rights and the safety of their patients. ## 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. It does not constitute individual medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. > Always verify dosing, contraindications, and regulatory alerts against official product labeling and primary regulatory sources before clinical decision-making.