Health

Nurses at Rush University Medical Center Hold Rally, File Petition to Unionize

Nurses at Rush University Medical Center rallied across the street from the hospital in the Illinois Medical District on Thursday in support of efforts to unionize. 

Rush nurses, in collaboration with National Nurses United and its affiliate National Nurses Organizing Committee, filed a petition Wednesday with the National Labor Relations Board for a union election, according to union organizers. 

Nurses and supporters gathered near the intersection of Harrison and Wood streets on Thursday, many wearing red and holding signs that said: “Chicago Supports Nurses at Rush” and “Union Nurses Build Healthy Communities.“ During the rally, nurses echoed a desire to have a seat at the table when it comes to decisions about patient care and working conditions.

“It is not just for us, it is for the future of the young nurses as they move forward,” Rush medical observation nurse Keeley Binion said during the rally. “It is not just mentoring them, but it is showing them that they have power and that they deserve a seat at the table.”

Rush orthopedic unit nurse Kira Pilate-jean said during a rally speech that the priority for nurses is patient safety and nurses have been asking for voice. 

“​​Every day I go in ready to stand up to whoever, if it’s in the name of my patients and their safety, and this is just a continuation of that,” Pilate-jean said about unionizing efforts. 

Nurses are hoping forming a union will lead to improved staffing ratios, increased pay, improved benefits and more transparency from management, Rush nurses told WTTW News.

“I would like to see more voices being heard instead of being brushed off all the time,” said Rush emergency room nurse Angela Brown. “We could actually bring issues and they actually sit down with us and take us seriously.”

Rush University Medical Center, located at 1620 W. Harrison St. Chicago, IL 60612. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)

When filing an election petition, workers need to show that at least 30% of co-workers support holding a union election, according to National Labor Relations Board regulations. If the union receives a majority of the votes cast at the election, the NLRB will certify the union and the employer must bargain in good faith over working conditions.

“Having us come to work feeling safe, secure and being able to take care of people properly, ultimately comes around and helps our patients,” said Rush mother/baby unit nurse Alisia Truss. “We can’t take care of others if we aren’t able to take care of ourselves.”

In a statement, Rush spokesperson Tobin Klinger said the hospital is aware of the election petition.

“We are aware that National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United has filed a petition requesting an election to represent and speak for Rush nurses,” the statement read. “Over the next several weeks, we will be discussing this important topic with our nursing team.”

The statement also said: “At Rush, one of our greatest strengths is the way nurses, leaders and care teams work together as colleagues — raising concerns, addressing challenges and making improvements — directly and transparently.”

Nurses have previously won contracts at other hospitals such as Cook County Health’s Stroger Hospital and Provident Hospital, UChicago Medicine, Jackson Park Hospital and Community First Medical Center, according to Brenda Langford, a National Nurses Organizing Committee board member and Cook County Health nurse. 

“We are calling on Rush University Medical Center to do the right thing,” Langford said. “Honor the petition, to respect the will of its nurses, and allow a fair, timely election process to move forward without delay.”

Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]

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