720 Nurses Strike At AMITA St. Joe's Hospital In Joliet

JOLIET, IL — About 720 Joliet nurses on Saturday morning began an unfair labor practice strike against AMITA St. Joseph Medical Center, according to the Illinois Nurses Association. The association said the strike is protesting "AMITA’s illegal acts, which include intimidation and threats of termination to prevent nurses from exercising their rights under federal law."

More than 200 nurses and supporters arrived around 6 a.m. to begin picketing, according to Joliet resident Bob Hernandez.

According to a news release, nurses will picket and rally outside the hospital at 333 Madison St. in Joliet. INA has not indicated how long the strike will last.

“AMITA is prepared to spend millions of dollars fighting the nurses’ union but refuses to invest in hiring enough nurses to provide safe care for the patients.” said Pat Meade, RN, a lead union nurse who has been involved in all the negotiations.

The nurses have been working without a contract since May 9 and continue to propose safe staffing at the bargaining table as the hospital continues illegal bargaining tactics, said Alice Johnson, executive director of the Illinois Nurses Association.

AMITA abruptly canceled a scheduled negotiation session earlier this week, refusing to meet and discuss the INA’s proposals to address the staffing crisis at the hospital, according to the Illinois Nurses Association.

Meade and her colleagues are protesting the hospital’s requirement of nurses to care for more patients than is safe. Studies show that the more patients each nurse cares for, the higher risk for the patient, the nurses contend.