Media Statement: INA Strike Update

The Illinois Nurses Association (INA), the union representing more than 1,700 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses at the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics, is on strike beginning Monday, Aug. 19, at 7 a.m.

While it is disappointing an agreement has not been reached, UI Health will continue good faith bargaining for as long as it takes to reach a successful agreement with the bargaining units.

We believe we have been fair and generous to the INA throughout negotiations and our latest proposal reflects our respect and commitment to our nursing colleagues.

UI Health nurses are critical to the hospital’s mission of clinical excellence and safe patient care. While we fully respect our nurses’ right to strike, we hope the INA will work with us toward a new agreement.

There have been questions raised about certain issues, such as staffing, safety and compensation, that UI Health addresses in the points below:

• UI Health supports a patient acuity-based staffing model. We utilize a system that focuses on obtaining the right nurse at the right time to care for each patient, so we can achieve the highest level of safety, quality, service and health outcomes. The INA is demanding fixed nurse-to-patient ratios that are too rigid and remove flexibility, which is ultimately not in the best interest of our patients.

• Our nurses deserve top compensation—and they receive it. Overall, UI Health nurses are paid in the 75th percentile of Illinois nurses, and more than 60% of UI Health nurses are paid in the 90th percentile, or above. Under our current offer, UI Health nurses would continue to receive top pay relative to their peers in Chicagoland.

• Our nurses deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment. Sadly, workplace violence against health care staff, particularly nurses, is a growing concern across the nation and is a concern that UI Health shares. UI Health has made numerous investments in safety technologies and programs to protect patients and staff and is committed to expanding these measures. We have also established a workplace violence prevention committee comprised of staff and hospital leadership working in partnership to address concerns and assess any potential threats.

UI Health is taking every step necessary to ensure our patients’ continued care and safety during the INA strike taking place during the Democratic National Convention.

• We have initiated our internal emergency management team, which will be monitoring and responding to all potential challenges during the strike to ensure safe patient care and collaboration with our external partners, including the Illinois Department of Public Health.

• We have engaged an agency to recruit qualified nurses to support our mission and care delivery.

• We have obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent some critical care nurses, for whom there are no similarly qualified agency substitutes, from participating in the strike so that our most vulnerable patients receive the care they need.

• Our outpatient clinics remain open and are functioning at full capacity. Some elective procedures have been rescheduled, but all urgent patients will be treated as needed.

UI Health remains committed to addressing key issues and believes much can be resolved through further dialogue. We have offered to meet for as long as it takes to resolve the outstanding issues and reach a fair and equitable agreement.