University Medical Center nurses hold informational picket to demand urgent workplace violence prevention

UMC nurses make workplace violence prevention key issue in contract negotiations

Registered nurses at University Medical Center (UMC) in New Orleans, Louisiana. will hold an information picket on Wednesday, July 17 to highlight their frustrations over hospital management's inaction against dangerous conditions for nurses and patients.

"Being in the hospital can be exceedingly difficult because patients and their loved ones are often afraid, or confused, or agitated facing an uncertain future," said Heidi Tujague, RN in the emergency department and bargaining team member. "Sometimes, frightened people act out. If the appropriate staffing and resources were in place, we could meet our patient's needs and calm potentially explosive situations. Too often, we are short-staffed and without systems to respond to the threat of violence."

On the first day of bargaining, the nurses, who are members of National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), proposed robust workplace violence prevention measures. UMC has yet to respond to these proposals.

Tujague, RN continued, "Without the guarantees of a legally binding union contract, any promises made by UMC are meaningless. Our hope is that our informational picket will pressure UMC to agree to a strong contract that protects everyone who comes through their doors."

Last month, UMC nurses held a speak-out to discuss how workplace violence is negatively impacting staff morale and retention. Data has proven that unit-specific workplace violence prevention plans reduce violent incidents.

What: Nurses information picket to protest workplace violence at UMC
When: Wednesday, July 17, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, with nurse and community remarks at 6:30pm
Where: University Medical Center, 2000 Canal St., New Orleans, Louisiana, at the intersection of S. Galvez St. and Canal St.

Nearly 80 percent of nurses at UMC signed the following petition addressed to UMC's CEO John Nickens:

"The Nurses and Nurse practitioners at University Medical Center are committed to fighting for improved workplace violence and safety protections. Workplace violence and staff safety has become an increasingly major issue in our hospital. Many workplace violence instances get swept under the rug with no support for the victims after the incident, this has been especially acute over the last year. As it stands nurses are leaving our hospital and the profession due to the violence and trauma they experience at work. This letter endorses that the wellbeing of all nurses and healthcare workers must become of the highest priority and measures must be improved upon now.

The petition continues: "We are asking that the hospital takes action to create a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program that is implemented at all times, in all units and work areas, and on all facility grounds, including parking structures. When the wellbeing of nurses and healthcare members is put in jeopardy it directly impacts their ability to care for their patients. If the safety of nurses and other health care employees is not guaranteed, the safety of our patients cannot be guaranteed. We urge UMC/LCMC to work with us and commit to create real change that will help us provide better care for our patients."

UMC nurses rallied on March 25 to mark the start of negotiations on their first union contract with LCMC Health, the hospital's management. Months earlier, in December 2023, they made history after voting to join NNOC/NNU - becoming the first unionized private-sector hospital in the state of Louisiana and members of the largest nurses union in the United States.

Health care workers are experiencing a surge in workplace violence rates nationally, which has been exacerbated by the health care industry's actions during the Covid-19 pandemic. A nationwide survey conducted by NNU found that the majority of nurses have experienced workplace violence and nearly half have seen a rise in rates in the past year.

NNOC/NNU represents nearly 600 nurses at University Medical Center, including registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs).

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.