Strikes averted at Florida Medical Center, Palmetto General Hospital, and Coral Gables Hospital as nurses prepare for contract ratification vote

Registered nurses at three Healthcare Systems of America (HSA) facilities in South Florida have called off their one-day strikes scheduled for Friday, Jan. 9. National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) represents more than 1,000 nurses at Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, and Coral Gables Hospital in Coral Gables. Strikes were set to take place Friday at all three facilities.

RNs were preparing to strike for safe staffing measures in on-going contract negotiations because they know safe staffing is an essential part of safe patient care. Nurses stayed at the table with HSA management to reach a deal on their new contract, averting the planned strikes.

“We were ready to show HSA management that we are serious about safe staffing with our strike,” said Lazaro Garcia, RN at Palmetto General Hospital. “Safely staffing every unit on every shift is the number one way to improve patient care and working conditions at our hospitals. We’re glad to have safe staffing measures in this new deal.”

“Research shows that better nurse-to-patient ratios mean better outcomes for patients,” said Leroy Desance, RN at Coral Gables Hospital. “We also know that safe patient loads are critical for ensuring we can recruit and retain nurses at the bedside. This new contract makes progress on staffing, and that means progress on recruitment and retention.”

“Safe patient care means safe staffing,” said Patrice Aljoe, RN at Florida Medical Center. “That means figuring out how much care patients need, and staffing our hospitals based on that. New measures in our contract are going to empower nurses to take even better care of our patients.”

Nurses at the three hospitals will soon vote on ratifying the new deal. Striking nurses had given hospital management 10-days notice for work stoppages in order to ensure safe patient care.

NNOC/NNU represents more than 1,000 nurses combined at Florida Medical Center, Palmetto General Hospital, and Coral Gables 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.