RNs to vote on May 14, 15, and 16 to join National Nurses Organizing Committee

Registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center (Rush) in Chicago, Ill., will be voting on May 14, 15, and 16 to join National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest and fastest-growing nurses union. Rush nurses filed a petition for a union election on April 8. It was Chicago's largest filing on record for a union election in the health care sector, and one of the largest in any industry in a city famous for its union strength. 

“We are very excited to have our union election next month,” said Olivia Bouchard, RN on the labor and delivery unit. “I can’t wait to cast my ballot to join NNOC. As union members with a seat at the table, we will be even stronger advocates for our patients. I hope we inspire RNs in hospitals across Chicago and around the country to organize. Safe staffing ratios help improve nurse retention, fostering a more supportive and responsive environment for patients.”

Nurses at Rush say they want to join NNOC/NNU because it is critical that nurses have a say in making decisions about patient care and nurse recruitment and retention, which leads to improved patient care.

“Rush nurses are working hard to win their election to join our union, and we’re proud to support them. We look forward to having them be part of a movement of nurses committed to fighting for our patients, our communities, and our fellow health care workers across the country,” said Brenda Langford, RN at Stroger Hospital in Chicago, NNU vice president and board member of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, NNU’s largest affiliate.

“Rush nurses are eager to join our union,” said Askale Facey-Phillips, RN in the surgical intensive care unit. “Rush management is attempting to dissuade nurses from voting yes, but we will not be deterred. We know that when we win our union, we will have a voice in patient care, and we will improve nurse retention.” 

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.