Categories: News

NC Nurses win Union for the First Time

Asheville, N.C. — In a mail-in ballot election, registered nurses at Mission Hospital Healthcare North Carolina Division voted 70 percent in favor of joining National Nurses United on Sept. 17. It’s the biggest hospital union victory in the South since 1975 and the first-ever election win for a union at a private hospital in North Carolina. NNU will represent 1,800 registered nurses at the hospital.

The successful union drove pit workers against HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest hospital corporation with 184 hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom. In February 2019, HCA paid $1.5 billion for Mission and six other nonprofit hospitals in western North Carolina.

NNU represents about 10,000 nurses at 19 HCA facilities across the country. The union drive at Mission Hospital is NNU’s largest campaign ever undertaken in North Carolina.

In the wake of the takeover by the multinational corporation, nurses saw patient care standards and working conditions quickly deteriorate. Four nurses initiated the union drive in May 2019 over cuts in staff, poor communication, and lack of access to basic supplies and personal protective equipment.

Mark Friedman

Mark Friedman is a Socialist, a labor activist, and an educator who has worked with teachers, students, ship's crew to promote marine biology with lessons and hands-on inquiry/investigations aligned to California state biology standards, NGSS & Common Core.

Recent Posts

From Iraq to Standing Rock

On July 4, About Face launched their “Right to Refuse Campaign,” an initiative that argues…

2 hours ago

At-Risk Missing Person – Natalia Vargas

  The Long Beach Police Department is asking for the public's help locating a 22-year-old…

3 hours ago

Public Health Urges Measles Vaccination After Child’s Death

Although they recovered from the initial measles illness, the child developed and ultimately died from…

3 hours ago

Recovery Begins of Fallen Containers at Port of Long Beach

Two sunken cargo containers were retrieved from the bottom of the basin Sept. 10. Additionally,…

3 hours ago

Port of Long Beach to Host Truck Driver Appreciation Day

  The Port of Long Beach will host a truck driver appreciation event Sept. 16,…

4 hours ago

Solis Demands Action and Accountability for Epstein Survivors in Press Conference

The press conference concluded with a unified call for action. Speakers urged the federal government…

4 hours ago