Registered nurses at Houlton (Maine) Regional Hospital have signed a letter of no confidence in the hospital’s president and CEO, Jeff Zewe, RN, according to a union statement shared with Becker’s.
The nurses, who are represented by the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, delivered the signed letter July 30 to Lynette McLaughlin, president of the hospital’s board of trustees. Their previous labor contract expired Nov. 30, 2024.
Five nurses said in a joint statement shared with Becker’s that the union “has given the board time to address the nurses’ concerns in their letter. Nurses at Houlton Regional Hospital care deeply about our community and the care provided at Houlton Regional Hospital. We are urging the board of trustees to take action now.” The statement did not detail the nurses’ specific concerns.
In a July 30 open letter posted to Facebook, Houlton Regional Hospital’s board of trustees said the hospital was near bankruptcy with approximately one day of cash on hand in May 2025 before entering a management agreement with Fort Kent, Maine-based Northern Maine Medical Center, under which Mr. Zewe took on the Houlton CEO role in June 2025 while continuing to serve as president and CEO of Northern Maine Medical Center. The board said the hospital has since expanded services, invested more than $2 million in imaging equipment and made “market wage adjustments and enhanced benefits” for employees. “Our priority remains clear: to increase access, provide high quality, accessible healthcare to the people of this region while building a sustainable future for Houlton Regional Hospital,” Ms. McLaughlin said in the letter.
The hospital said in a statement shared with Becker’s that it is “currently in negotiations with the union. By mutual agreement we have been participating in mediation with a mediator provided through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. We do not expect any changes in operations and will continue to bargain in good faith.”
The no-confidence letter follows two strikes in six months, including a walkout in May.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Aug. 3.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
