About 1,700 nurses at University of Illinois hospitals and clinics plan to embark on an indefinite strike on Nov. 13, the nurses union announced Friday afternoon.
The strike would be second time nurses have been leaving their jobs since August. The union, the Illinois Nurses Association and UI Health have scheduled additional bargaining sessions before Nov. 13, meaning a strike can still be avoided.
The nurses’ four-year contract expired on August 19. Nurses are demanding better safety protocols to prevent attacks on hospital nurses, as well as increased pay, among other things. The health system has proposed annual raises of less than 3%, according to the union.
UI Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon, but said in a statement earlier this week after nurses voted to authorize strike, that: “We appreciate the essential role our nurses and other healthcare professionals play in fulfilling our mission of providing vital care to our community. The majority of IU Health nurses are currently paid more than 90% of nurses in the Chicagoland area. Under our current proposal, UI Health nurses will continue to receive top salaries compared to their Chicagoland peers.
Nurses last went on strike for a week in August — a walkout that took place during the Democratic National Convention, much of which was held at the United Center, which is near the hospital. University of Illinois.
Prior to that strike, a Cook County Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting 91 nurses per shift – including those who worked in intensive care units and emergency rooms – from going on strike in order to “to avoid or eliminate any clear and present danger.” to the health or safety of the public. The judge’s order follows a request from the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Nurses also went on strike for a week in 2020.
