Press Release
Registered nurses at Endeavor Health Edward Hospital vote overwhelmingly to join National Nurses Organizing Committee
RNs say union protections will lead to improved patient care
Registered nurses at Endeavor Health Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill., voted overwhelmingly to join National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest and fastest-growing registered nurse (RN) union. The polls closed yesterday and the votes were counted today at Edward Hospital.
“We are so proud to win our union election and join National Nurses Organizing Committee,” said Kendra Creech, RN in the perioperative unit. “We know that a union for RNs will help us be even stronger advocates for our patients.”
Sixty-five percent of nurses voted to join the union to have a say in decisions that affect patient care. With Edward nurses joining the union, NNOC now represents more than 10,000 nurses in Chicagoland, including RNs at Rush University Medical Center, who voted to join NNOC in May.
“We look forward to bargaining our first union contract that protects our patients and nurses so we can give them the care they deserve,” said Aneysha Becka, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit. “We want safe staffing at all times. This is why we voted to join NNOC/NNU — because our union knows how to win strong contracts.”
The election win also highlights nurses’ concerns about the proposed merger between Endeavor Health and Rush, which nurses fear will lead to higher prices, service cuts, and other moves to maximize profits. Regardless of what happens with the proposed merger, Rush and Edward nurses will be in the best position to advocate for their patients and communities by joining NNOC.
NNOC represents more than 1,200 nurses at Edward Hospital.
National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.