More than 1,700 UI Health nurses to go on strike indefinitely

More than 1,700 nurses at University of Illinois Health will go on strike indefinitely beginning Nov. 19, according to the Illinois Nurses Association.

The union representing the nurses said despite numerous attempts at a compromise, they have not been able reach an agreement with the health group. The nurses have continued to work since their contract expired Aug. 18.

Among the group's demands are higher wages to meet rising costs of living, lower staff-to-patient ratios and an increase in paid parental leave from the current six weeks. They also want to keep specialists working in their areas of expertise rather than across hospital departments, and to secure language to protect their contract in case any clinics or hospitals are sold.

"These are serious issues," said David Martucci, a staff nurse and grievance co-chair for the nurses association. "We just want to see substantive movement. We've tried to find common ground, and we've been meeting them more than halfway in some of these issues. But we're still not making any progress."

Martucci said the hospital has repeatedly rejected requests for guarantees of a more consistent security presence and support for nurses who have experienced violence on the job.

"Staff can get hurt, sometimes with extensive lifelong injuries," said Martucci. "I've been assaulted on the job and many others have, too. These are serious issues for us, and we're willing to fight for it."

In August, nurses went on a seven-day strike but were unsuccessful at reaching an agreement for a new contract. Now nurses are prepared to go on strike and have not given hospitals a return date.

UI Health said it's "disappointed" in the decision to strike but will continue to meet with the nurses association's bargaining team until they can "reach an agreement."

"Patient care is our primary responsibility," UI Health said in a statement. "Our focus is maintaining the highest level of safety and care for our patients while ensuring the efficiency of our facilities and operations as we anticipate a potential work stoppage."

"We have in place comprehensive plans to anticipate, respond to, and mitigate staffing disruptions that may occur over the coming weeks, including a process to secure nursing agency staff, ensuring that in the event of a strike our patients continue to receive the outstanding care they need."

Three negotiation sessions are scheduled before Nov. 13.