A UChicago Medicine nurse submits ballot in strike authorization vote held on Feb. 20 in Hyde Park. The union National Nurses United represents 2,800 nurses at UChicago Medicine. (WTTW News)
Nurses at UChicago Medicine held a vote Tuesday on whether to authorize a strike as contract negotiations with management over what they say are understaffing and patient safety concerns continue.
“Our patients depend on us to be alert and fast-acting, and we cannot do that when we are exhausted,” said Amber Turi, a medical ICU nurse at UChicago Medicine and member of the union negotiating team, at a press conference held in Hyde Park on Tuesday.
National Nurses United represents 2,800 nurses at UChicago Medicine.
A strike authorization vote is part of standard procedure, where represented nurses give the union the authority to call a strike. No actual strike has been announced.
In a statement to WTTW News, a University of Chicago Medical Center spokesperson said, “We remain optimistic that both sides will reach an agreement that allows us to continue to retain and attract the high caliber of nurses who so meaningfully contribute to our reputation for providing excellent care.”
Some of what the union bargaining committee is asking for includes incentives to help address nurse retention, requiring operating room nurses have at least 12 hours of rest between shifts and for charge nurses to not have patients so they can focus on assisting nurses in their unit.
Issues with understaffing at UChicago Medicine Mitchell Hospital in Hyde Park is a significant concern and does the “deepest harm to those with the fewest resources” as nurses at the hospital care for a large percentage of Medicaid patients, according to a union spokesperson.
More than 400 nurses at UChicago Medicine attended an informational picket in January to raise awareness about patient safety and the need for appropriate staffing and resources in its facilities.
According to a union spokesperson, management made no significant movement to address core staffing issues in bargaining sessions held since last month’s informational picket.
A Feb. 14 bargaining update from UChicago Medicine Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services Emily Chase said both bargaining teams had productive conversations and reached a number of agreements on important items.
In the weeks following the informational picket, over 2,100 pledged to vote in favor of a strike authorization, according to the union. The ballots from Tuesday’s vote will be counted later in the day.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for Thursday.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]
