ILLINOIS
R
egistered nurses at UChicago
Medicine in Chicago, Ill., voted
overwhelmingly in March to
approve a new four-year agree-
ment that addresses numerous patient
safety concerns. In February the nurses
voted 97 percent in favor of authorizing
their nurse bargaining committee to call a
one-day strike if management did not
address their chronic staffing concerns.
National Nurses Organizing Committee
(NNOC) represents 2,800 nurses at
UChicago Medicine. From January 2020
through November 2023, UChicago saw 40
percent of its nurses leave the system. The
nurses had been in contract negotiations
with the hospital since September 2023.
Their contract expired in November 2023.
"We are so proud of what we have been
able to accomplish for our patients with this
new contract," said Pam Valentine, a regis-
tered nurse in the post-anesthesia care unit.
"This contract includes numerous provi-
sions that we believe will translate into
better recruitment and retention of experi-
enced nurses who are critical in providing
the highest quality of care to our patients. In
addition, we have new processes in place to
address the chronic understaffing that has
led to many nurses leaving UChicago."
Highlights of the contract include:
• a commitment that charge nurses will
not be assigned a patient load in nearly a
dozen new units
• language that limits floating nurses out
of units where a charge nurse is responsible
for a patient assignment
• dedicated meal- and relief-break nurse
in the adult emergency department
• a new step-by-step process for address-
ing staffing concerns and an option to
resolve through federal mediation
• Significant wage increases across the
board, from 20 percent up to 40 percent
over the life of the contract
• No changes to retirement benefits for
the life of the contract and health care pre-
miums remain at current percentage.
"This contract shows what nurses can
achieve for our community when we stand
in solidarity to demand that UChicago make
the changes necessary to ensure each and
every patient is getting the care they need
and deserve," said Brigitt Manson, a regis-
tered nurse in the pediatric unit and the
chief nurse representative. "We are grateful
for the community's support throughout this
process. We were determined to do every-
thing we could for our patients, even if that
meant going on strike. However, we are so
glad we reached an agreement so we could
stay at the bedside, where we want to be,
caring for our patients."
—Lucy Diavolo
Chicago nurses score contract victory
UChicago Medicine RNs avert strike
Retiring soon?
Join the CNA/NNOC retiree division! CNA/NNOC
members in good standing who are age 62 or
are retiring due to a disability are eligible to join.
Dues are only $60 per year, and you will be a part
of an active, dynamic group of retired RNs who
work to continue our vision of social justice and
health care for all. More information and forms to
join are on the CNA/NNOC website here:
https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/
CNA-NNOC-retiree-division
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