SLUH nurses to strike for two days to protest management’s outsourcing of RN jobs, picketing tomorrow 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28, 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

Registered nurses at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital (SLUH) in St. Louis, Mo., are moving forward with their two-day strike, starting at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, due to management’s persistent union-busting and outsourcing of RN jobs, announced National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) today.

The union has filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital for coordinating a decertification effort when management should be bargaining in good faith. Management is actively recruiting nurses to leave the union.

“We condemn SSM for trying to break the union by encouraging nurses to leave the union instead of bargaining in good faith,” said Maddi O’Leary, RN in the blood and marrow transplant clinic at SLUH. “SSM seems to be dragging this process out and encouraging the decertification of our union. This is why we are striking.”

“We want SSM to stop outsourcing nurse jobs and focus on recruiting and retaining nurses,” continued O’Leary. “We want a strong contract so we can give our patients the best care.”

The strike ends at 6:59 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29. Read the press release announcing the strike.

SLUH nurses will be available to the media at the times noted below.

Wednesday, Dec. 27, Day 1 of strike
STRIKE START. Nurses will walk out of building at 7 a.m. and begin their strike.
Time: Picketing from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Saint Louis University Hospital, at 1201 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Mo.

STRIKE RALLY. Nurses and community members to speak.
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Saint Louis University Hospital, at 1201 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Mo.

Thursday, Dec. 28, Day 2 of strike
NURSES PICKETING.
Time: Picketing from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Saint Louis University Hospital, at 1201 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Mo.

National Nurses Organizing Committee is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates also include California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.