COVID-19 has spotlighted the importance of paid sick leave, with three states implementing paid leave laws after the pandemic's onset, according to a Sept. 16 article from the Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Members of Communications Workers of America Local 1168 and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East have authorized negotiation leaders to call a strike at Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kaleida Health.

Kaiser Permanente and the National Union of Healthcare Workers recently resumed collective bargaining on behalf of mental health workers who are one month into their strike in California. However, both sides ultimately were unable to reach an agreement. 

After hundreds of New Jersey public employees demonstrated at the state capital, unions there secured an agreement to limit the impact of a steep rise in their healthcare costs for 2023, meaning taxpayers are likely to pay the bill, according to a Sept. 15 report from Bloomberg.

An on-call nurse in Iowa has been fired after improperly administering monkeypox vaccines to Polk County residents, the Des Moines Register reported Sept. 14.

Hundreds of New Jersey public employees demonstrated at the state capital, demanding that officials delay a contentious vote on the increase in workers' healthcare premiums by more than 20 percent, according to a Sept. 13 report from Bloomberg.

About 15,000 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association are on their last day of a three-day strike Sept. 14 at hospitals in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association said Sept. 13 that it has filed a 21-count unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against Boston-based St. Elizabeth's Medical Center.

Amid contract negotiations, nurses at Hartford HealthCare's Windham Hospital in Willimantic, Conn., have notified hospital leaders of their intent to strike.

University of Wisconsin Health in Madison, nurses and the union that seeks to collectively bargain on their behalf have reached an agreement to avert a planned strike, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

About 15,000 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association are set to begin a three-day strike Sept. 12 at hospitals in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports.

Members of the New Jersey Nurses Union have accepted a contract proposal at two RWJBarnabas Health facilities.

Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board ahead of a planned strike by thousands of members of the Minnesota Nurses Association.

Minnesota hospitals are planning to be at or near full operations during an upcoming strike by thousands of members of the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Star Tribune reported Sept. 7.

Kaiser Permanente and the National Union of Healthcare Workers have agreed to resume bargaining on behalf of mental health workers who are on strike in California.

Members of Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West have reached an agreement with Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, Calif., the Antelope Valley Press reported Sept. 4.

Members of the Michigan Nurses Association voted to authorize nurse negotiation leaders to call a strike at the University of Michigan.

Nurses said they will give their official strike notice to the administration at University of Wisconsin Health in Madison on Sept. 2.

Children's hospitals and clinicians across the country have faced a barrage of threats and harassment in recent weeks over medical care they provide to transgender children.

As hospitals and health systems continue to grapple with staffing shortages, employers are using perks beyond pay to recruit and retain talent.