Central Maine Medical Center Nurses Vote 91% in Favor of Forming Union
TL/DR –
Registered nurses at Central Maine Medical Center have voted to join the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, with a majority of 91% in favor. The decision comes after nurses protested against Prime Healthcare’s alleged retaliation against staff fighting for patients’ rights. The nurses aim to have a say in decisions regarding patient care, working conditions, staffing, and recruitment and retention of experienced nurses.
RNs at Central Maine Medical Center joined MSNA/NNOC Union
Registered nurses at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) in Lewiston, Maine, significantly voted in favor of joining the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (MSNA/NNOC) on September 24. The MSNA/NNOC, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), is the biggest and rapidly growing RN union in the U.S.A. The polling results showed a staggering 91 percent vote in favor of the union formation.
Nurses voiced their commitment to improving healthcare
Aaron McDaniel, an RN in the intensive care unit, expressed his excitement over the victory. He stated the union formation would empower nurses to advocate for their patients better and could lead to significant improvements in patient care. The nurses held an informational picket the previous week to protest against Prime Healthcare’s retaliation tactics. Despite these, the nurses demonstrated unity resulting in the union win.
Next Steps after Union Formation
Following their election victory, the nurses aim to reinstate 20 unfairly disciplined coworkers and initiate good faith bargaining on a first union contract. The next step involves selecting bargaining team members to negotiate their first collective bargaining agreement with Prime Healthcare, aiming to address patient care, working conditions, staffing, recruitment, and retention of experienced nurses.
Timeline of Events Leading to Union Formation
On August 24, RNs at CMMC and Olympia Fields Hospital, Illinois, filed union election petitions. On September 3, nurses at four Prime hospitals across three states held one-day strikes to protest against unsafe staffing and patient care concerns. On September 15, Olympia Fields nurses held a one-day strike, supported by nurses at two Prime Hospitals. Olympia Fields nurses voted to join NNOC on September 23, followed by CMMC nurses on September 24.
MSNA/NNOC now represents nearly 300 nurses in the bargaining unit at CMMC. The newly joined nurses from Olympia Fields increase the number of healthcare workers in the Prime system already represented by NNOC/NNU at hospitals nationwide.
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