Nurses at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Ukrainian Village began a one-day strike Thursday, protesting alleged unsafe conditions and union busting by the hospital’s parent company, Prime Healthcare. The strike, which is expected to last until Friday morning, involves over 100 nurses and supporters who are picketing outside the hospital.

Allegations of Union Busting

Several nurses who were fired in recent months for speaking up about unsafe hospital conditions and working to form a union claim that their terminations were retaliatory. Nancy Delgado, a nurse who was fired in late May, stated that the reason given for her termination was ‘100 percent an excuse’ to fire her for union activity. Delgado and other nurses are demanding that the six fired employees be reinstated and that Prime provide better staffing and supplies.

The nurses, who are seeking to unionize with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, filed for a union election on May 20 with the National Labor Relations Board. They have been holding rallies and giving notice of their intent to strike in an effort to improve working conditions and patient care.

Hospital Response

A spokesperson for St. Mary’s stated that the hospital will remain open and operational throughout the strike, with patient safety and care as the top priority. The hospital also expressed respect for the nurses’ right to engage in the strike and commit to ongoing, good-faith discussions with the nurses.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.