Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Registered nurses (RNs) at St. Joseph Health in Brazos Valley, Texas, are celebrating a powerful victory this week after they voted to form a union with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU).
The medical facility is owned by CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the nation that generated $1.1 billion in profits in 2024. Newly minted NNU members cited concerns around lack of decision-making power in patient care and staffing and the need to recruit and retain experienced nurses as core motivators for organizing.
“This is a great day for the nurses at St. Joseph Health and for the patients in our community,” said Tara Cassell, an RN in the labor and delivery unit, in a press release. “Nurses have come together to ensure that our voices are heard as we advocate for our patients. We were compelled to organize and form a union because of our deep concerns about our patients’ safety and well-being. We are excited to build a strong contract that protects nurses and patients so we can provide the best care possible.”