Maine State Nurses Association

Submitted by ADonahue on
Large group of nurss with raised fists hold banner "Bedside Nurses Support Ratios"
Separate head shots of Troy Jackson and Graham Platner

Maine nurses announce major endorsements in key 2026 races

Members of the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee announced their endorsement of Troy Jackson for Maine Governor and Graham Platner for U.S. Senate. As the Trump administration continues to decimate the U.S. healthcare system, Maine nurses know that both Jackson and Platner will stand strong in fighting for the state’s workers, patients, and communities.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
September 18, 2025

Four nurses inside holding signs "Support Our Nurses"

Nurses at two Maine hospitals vote to authorize strikes

Registered nurses at Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent, Maine, and at Houlton Regional Hospital in Houlton, Maine, announced today that they have voted overwhelmingly to authorize their nurse bargaining teams to call a strike if the issues RNs have been raising in ongoing contract negotiations remain unresolved.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
September 4, 2025

Large group of people in meeting room

100+ Maine nurses, community members protest Mount Desert Island Hospital obstetrics department closure

Local community members joined more than 100 nurses today in Bar Harbor, Maine to protest the closure of Mount Desert Island Hospital’s (MDIH) obstetrics department.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
May 8, 2025

Group of nurses in front of "Gateway Crossing" bridge with huge print out of petition signatures

Houlton Regional Hospital nurses and community members hold candlelight vigil to protest planned department closure

Tonight, nurses from Houlton Regional Hospital’s (HRH) Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) unit were again joined by scores of community members for a candlelight vigil in a protest against the proposed closure of their hospital’s LDRP department.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
April 23, 2025

Three nurses inside hospital standing side-by-side

Houlton nurses, community to hold candlelight vigil protesting planned hospital unit closure

Following a standing room only town hall meeting earlier this month, Houlton Regional Hospital nurses and community members will gather for a candlelight vigil tomorrow, April 23, at Houlton Riverfront Park as they continue to demand that the hospital’s administration cancel plans to close their Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum department.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
April 22, 2025

Large group of people outside holding signs "Cancel the Closure"

RNs protest obstetrics closures

Vital obstetrics services are in crisis in Maine. On March 27, Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor, a town about an hour southeast of Bangor, announced that it would be closing its obstetrics (OB) department on July 1. A week later, Houlton Regional Hospital in Houlton, announced that it would be shutting down its Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) unit on May 2.

July 9, 2025

Large group of nurses standing outside hospital holding signs "We're here for our patients"

Maine nurses vindicated

The Maine Department of Labor issued a citation in late February to Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) for regulatory violations, including misclassifying nurses as subcontractors, failing to pay nurses overtime, failing to pay nurses their wages in a timely manner, and requiring nurses to sign contracts that exempted NMMC from Maine’s labor laws.

April 11, 2025

Large group of Machias nurses and techs on the strike line with lots of picket signs about staffing and retention

Machias nurses and techs hold historic first strike

Registered nurses and technicians at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, Maine, held a two-day strike on April 30 and May 1 to protest the administration’s refusal to address RNs’ and techs’ concerns about recruitment, retention, and safe staffing.

June 5, 2024

Group of nurses standing outside in cold weather holding banner "Bedside Nurses Support Ratios"

Maine nurses press on for ratios bill

Maine nurses recently moved safe staffing legislation the farthest a state bill has progressed in the past 20 years. Pine Tree State RNs applauded the Maine Senate for passing L.D. 1639, The Maine Quality Care Act on March 27 but unfortunately did not make it to a vote in the House before the legislative session ended on April 17. Nurses vow to keep fighting for ratios.

June 5, 2024

Group of NMMC nurses at union election

Fort Kent nurses unionize

In January, registered nurses at Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent, Maine, voted overwhelmingly, 62 percent in favor, to join Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

March 29, 2024