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.
Nearly 2,300 nurses at three Portland Legacy hospitals (Legacy Emanuel, Randall Children's Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital) voted to organize with the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). Voting results showed nearly unanimous support from nurses at all three facilities, with about 599 nurses at Randall Children's Hospital, 1,095 nurses at Legacy Emanuel and 596 nurses at Good Samaritan. The nurses will now negotiate their first union contracts.
"This victory is about nurses standing together for the future of our profession, our patients, and our hospitals," said Emanuel nurse leader Sarah Zavala. "We're ready to build a strong contract that protects and empowers nurses so we can continue to provide the best care possible."