Mission Hospital Nurses Continue Working as Contract Negotiations Persist

Asheville -- July 3, 2024: The three-year contract for hundreds of Mission Hospital’s nurses expired on Tuesday, July 2. Despite the expiration,

nurses are continuing to work their shifts as negotiations between the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) and National Nurses United (NNU) and hospital management continue. This period of negotiation is critical as nurses push for stronger contract terms that address vital issues impacting their work environment and patient care.

Latest Developments from National Nurses United

National Nurses United, representing over 1,600 nurses at Mission Hospital and around 10,000 nurses at HCA facilities nationwide, is actively involved in negotiating new contracts at 17 HCA hospitals across six states. The key issues at the forefront of these negotiations include safe staffing ratios, adequate meal and rest breaks, and measures to prevent workplace violence (National Nurses United) (National Nurses United).

Key Issues in the Contract Negotiations

Safe Staffing and Patient Care Nurses at Mission Hospital are advocating for safe staffing levels to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. Kol Wilds, an RN in the general surgical unit, emphasized the importance of addressing the staffing cuts made by HCA. "Nurses at Mission have been consistent and clear about how HCA is failing the people of Asheville and Western North Carolina with the cuts it’s made at our hospital,” Wilds stated. “The entire world has taken notice. This contract fight is about fixing what HCA has broken at our hospital, and ensuring a better future for nurses and all our patients.”

Utilization of Travel Nurses Lori Wooton, an RN in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, highlighted the issue of relying on short-term travel nurses rather than addressing the root cause of staffing problems. "HCA responded to all the regulatory scrutiny they’ve faced by bringing in travel nurses on short-term,” Wooton remarked. “Nurses refuse to let HCA return to the unsafe status quo that brought on all this scrutiny. Our contract fight is about safely staffing Mission Hospital, so every patient gets the best care possible.”

Meal and Rest Breaks Ensuring that nurses have the opportunity to take meal and rest breaks is another significant concern.

Grayce Shockley, an RN in the float pool, stressed the importance of these breaks for both nurse well-being and patient care. “A big part of our fight is meal and rest breaks,” Shockley said. “Part of safe staffing is ensuring nurses on 12-hour shifts have a chance to eat, hydrate, and use the bathroom, and ensuring that our patients are cared for while we do so. We’re fighting for a hospital where nurses and patients are all taken care of.”
National Impact

The negotiations at Mission Hospital are part of a broader effort by NNOC/NNU to improve conditions for nurses and patients across the country. NNOC/NNU, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, represents nearly 225,000 members nationwide. Its affiliates include the California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association (National Nurses United) (National Nurses United).

The outcome of these negotiations will not only affect the nurses at Mission Hospital but also set a precedent for other facilities under HCA management. Nurses and their union representatives remain committed to achieving a contract that ensures safe staffing, proper breaks, and a safe working environment, ultimately leading to better patient care.

WNCTimes

Image: WNCTimes

Source: National Nurses United