Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Nurses Protest Alleged Unionization Crackdown
Nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago have staged a protest against what they describe as a crackdown on their unionization efforts by the hospital's owner, Prime Healthcare. The registered nurses filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on May 20 to hold a union election, seeking representation by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United. The hospital, located in the Ukrainian Village, employs over 400 registered nurses. The nurses argue that unionization is necessary to advocate for themselves and protect patients, especially after Prime Healthcare, a for-profit company, acquired the hospital from nonprofit Ascension last year. Some nurses leading the union campaign were reportedly fired shortly after the petition was filed, raising concerns about the hospital's commitment to its staff. 
