Becker's Hospital Review reported the following events related to hospital-union relationships — including unionization votes, strikes and contract agreements — since May 3.
1. Workers at Partners' Cooley Dickinson Hospital face decision to join SEIU
Service and technical workers at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass., a part of Boston-based Partners HealthCare, will decide for or against joining the Service Employees International Union.
2. RNs from CHS, Quorum hospitals protest 'eroding' patient care conditions
Registered Nurses represented by National Nurses United protested what they say are "eroding" patient care conditions due to high RN turnover rates at hospitals affiliated with Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems and its spin-off Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health Corp.
3. Nurses at 2 USC facilities ratify contract
Registered nurses ratified a contract with Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, both in Los Angeles.
4. California hospital workers to strike over alleged unfair labor practices
More than 100 healthcare workers at Watsonville (Calif.) Community Hospital scheduled a strike, which occurred May 17. The workers, represented by Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, seek "to protect patient care and protest the hospital's unfair labor practices," the union said.
5. Massachusetts nurses union mulls 2018 ballot effort to set staffing requirements
The Massachusetts Nurses Association is considering a 2018 ballot initiative to address hospital staffing. The consideration arrives after MNA released its annual survey of registered nurses working in the state's healthcare facilities to Massachusetts House members.
6. Aspirus Riverview Hospital workers ratify contract with pay raises
Healthcare workers at Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.-based Aspirus Riverview Hospital ratified a contract agreement.
7. Presence Saint Joseph nurses grant negotiators ability to call strike
Nurses at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill., voted 529-89 to allow the negotiating committee to call a strike if they feel the need to do so.
8. Fountain Valley Regional workers ratify contract with pay raises
Unionized healthcare workers ratified a three-year contract agreement with Fountain Valley (Calif.) Regional Hospital and Medical Center.
9. Care New England workers ask execs to return $4M in pay as part of picket over layoffs
Unionized nurses and healthcare employees conducted informational picketing at Women & Infants and Butler hospitals, which are operated by Providence, R.I.-based Care New England.
10. More than 1k Hurley Medical Center nurses, pharmacists picket over contract impasse
More than 1,000 members of the Registered Nurses and Registered Pharmacists of Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Mich., picketed over a contract dispute.
11. Kindred Hospital San Gabriel nurses vote to unionize
Registered nurses at West Covina, Calif.-based Kindred Hospital San Gabriel Valley voted to become members of the California Nurses Association.
12. Nurses petition Berkshire Medical Center for 'fair agreement' amid ongoing labor talks
Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Medical Center and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents registered nurses at BMC, continue contract negotiations.