Nurses at University Medical Center vote to unionize, a Louisiana first

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LCMC Health’s University Medical Center nurses voted to join National Nurses United, the largest U.S. union for registered nurses, after a three-day vote that ended Saturday night.

The union will be Louisiana’s first among health care workers. It is also one of the state's largest, with 598 eligible members.

More than 90% of eligible nurses voted in the election. Of those who voted, 82% voted in favor of the union, according to National Nurses United.

“Nurses at our hospital wanted a voice so we can speak up for our patients and ourselves, and we wanted a seat at the table to be involved in shaping the future of our hospital,” said Dionne Jones, a registered nurse at UMC, in a written statement.

Officials at UMC acknowledged the union and said they would "continue to work with the National Labor Relations Board and operate consistently with the processes established by the National Labor Relations Act."

"As a hospital, our focus remains the same — to provide exceptional patient care that honors the Spirit of Charity," the hospital said in an emailed statement.

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