LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Registered nurses at MountainView Hospital voted to authorize a strike on Wednesday after a union spokesperson said the hospital “refused to address numerous patient safety issues.”
National Nurses United, a union representing around 950 MountainView nurses, says the strike was authorized by 98% of those participating. While the vote does not guarantee a strike, it does authorize those bargaining on the nurses’ behalf to call a strike, if they deem it necessary in negotiations.
At any time in the process, the nurses have the option of calling off the strike if an agreement with HCA is reached. However, if nurses decide to move forward with a strike, hospital management would be notified 10 days before to allow time for planning patient care.
“We have been at the bargaining table for more than four months and HCA is refusing to take the steps necessary to improve conditions for nurses and patients at our hospital,” said Elizabeth Rodriguez, a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit. “We see patient care suffer when we don’t have the resources and support we need. As patient advocates, we are compelled to take this strike authorization vote to make it clear to HCA that we are serious about patient care. Every patient deserves the highest quality of care, and HCA has a moral and ethical responsibility to do everything in its power to make that possible.”
NNU began negotiating their new contract with HCA in April and says their most recent contract expired on June 30.
FOX5 has reached out to MountainView Hospital for a statement on the union vote but has yet to hear back.
Check back later for updates on this story.
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