NEW ORLEANS — On Friday, nurses at University Medical Center in New Orleans will go on strike for one day.
Last week, 98 percent of the nurses union voted to authorize the strike. The hospital released a statement calling the strike a “significant disappointment” and promising patient care would not be interrupted.
On Thursday, the UMC released a statement saying during the strike "We will be fully operational and ready to provide seamless, high-quality care for our community in their most vulnerable moments."
The union gave UMC a 10-day notice prior to the strike.
It comes as the nurses are in contract negotiations.
Since bargaining began in March for a first contract, UMC management has delayed negotiations, including postponing bargaining sessions and refusing to make meaningful responses to nurses’ proposals on key issues such as workplace violence and safe staffing.
From rallies to informational pickets, the nurses have been calling attention to the negotiations.
Union negotiator Heidi Tujague said last week “We want to be able to return back to our patient care because that's our main thing, is making sure that we're taking care of our patients.”
They're pushing for more workplace safety protections, better staffing ratios, pay and benefits.
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