Mission nurses vote overwhelmingly to strike
Date has not been set; historic action could still be averted through bargaining and would be limited to one day
ASHEVILLE WATCHDOG | Reported by ANDREW R. JONES
September 2, 2024
Members of the Mission nurses union picketed at the hospital in mid-April. // Watchdog photo by Victoria A. Ifatusin
The following article by Andrew R. Jones appeared in Asheville Watchdog on September 2nd, 2024
Mission nurses have voted to strike for one day after HCA Healthcare and the Asheville hospital refused to meet their contract demands, two union nurses who tallied the ballots told Asheville Watchdog, which also obtained a union email Monday announcing the outcome of the vote.
“We had a vote count today, and nurses at Mission Hospital who voted authorized the bargaining team to call a strike, with an overwhelming majority,” said Kerri Wilson, a Mission nurse and member of the union’s bargaining team. “HCA continues to ignore what nurses are asking for to provide the care our community needs and deserves. The results of this vote show that nurses are willing to do whatever it takes to take care of our patients, community, and colleagues.”
Mission Health spokesperson Nancy Lindell said the outcome was not surprising and a strike is unnecessary.
“It was fully expected that the union would claim overwhelming support for a strike as this is a common bargaining tactic, especially from this union,” Lindell said. “The union has seemed intent on striking long before bargaining began.
“If the union decides to move forward with a strike, Mission Hospital is fully prepared to remain open and provide care for our patients. We have plans in place allowing us to be confident that it will be safe for our patients and for any nurse who makes the personal decision to cross the picket line.”
The nurses would not disclose the vote tally, but the flyer said that 97 percent of the votes cast were for a strike. The nurses also would not say when a potential strike might occur. The strike against Mission would be a first in North Carolina history as Mission Nurses United is the state’s first and only nurses union at a private hospital.
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Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Andrew R. Jones is a Watchdog investigative reporter. Email arjones@avlwatchdog.org.
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