Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee have voted to authorize their nurse bargaining team to call a second strike this year at Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, citing issues such as outsourcing of nurse jobs.
The union, an affiliate of National Nurses United, has represented the nurses at the hospital since 2012, according to an NNU news release. Saint Louis University Hospital is part of St. Louis-based SSM Health.
Union members voted to authorize a strike on Dec. 8, according to NNU. The union and hospital began negotiating a new labor contract in May.
A strike authorization does not mean a strike is imminent, as the union would still have to provide a 10-day notice to the hospital for one to occur.
Meanwhile, nurses remain prepared to provide a strike notice, if needed, to call attention to what they say is outsourcing of nurse jobs instead of hiring full-time union staff nurses, according to NNU.
"Having a revolving door of nurses in a hospital — rather than longtime employees who know their workplace well — disrupts the continuity of care that patients need in their medical treatment," the union release stated. "Agency nurses are nonunion nurses who do not have the right to speak up about working conditions or patient care."
Hospitals and health systems across the U.S. have faced workforce challenges, including challenges related to filling staffing gaps. Agency nurses are used by some organizations to fill those gaps, though they typically come with higher costs. Organizations have also implemented other programs and initiatives to help with recruitment and retention. These range from on-demand staffing capabilities to partnerships with colleges.
SSM Health expressed disappointment that the union has voted to authorize another strike and emphasized its commitment to workers and the bargaining process.
"We are working hard to reach an agreement with NNOC that provides our SLU-H nurses with a strong, market-competitive compensation and benefits package — while ensuring continued exceptional patient care and service at our hospital," the health system said in a statement shared with Becker's.
The union's previous strike at the hospital was in September.