NEW ORLEANS — It is a first for Louisiana nurses at University Medical Center, who have overwhelmingly voted to unionize.
They'll join National Nurses United, the country's biggest union for registered nurses.
The nurses voted 82% yes with over 90% turnout. Altogether, 74% of eligible voters said yes to the union, according to an email statement from the National Nurses United.
“This is a historic day for UMC, for New Orleans and the surrounding area, and for all of Louisiana and the South,” said Dionne Jones, RN in the in-house nurse pool at UMC. “Nurses at our hospital wanted a voice so we can speak up for our patients and ourselves, and we wanted a seat at the table to be involved in shaping the future of our hospital. Now that we’ve won our union, we have both.”
Representatives say their biggest concerns are staffing and workplace safety policies.
National Nurses United says the nurses at UMC will now move to elect their bargaining team and prepare to negotiate their first contract.
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