Amid Concerns Of Violence At Hospitals, Nationwide Children’s Nurses Push For Unionization
As conversations about workplace safety hit Ohio hospitals, Nationwide Children’s Hospital nurses are working to unionize.
The push to unionize has been underway since September, with nurses posting billboards around Columbus that read “We deserve better.” Nationwide Children’s nurses said they are among the lowest paid in central Ohio and have insufficient paid time off for sick leave and vacation. Nurses also said they are facing ongoing staff shortages and serious safety concerns.
The union movement is supported by AFSCME Ohio Council 8, the local affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. AFSCME Ohio Council 8 said it supports more than 32,000 public and private Ohio workers, including many health care professionals.
“In a hospital that values quality care and is reliant on qualified nurses, you would think that those nurses would be treated fairly,” AFSCME Ohio Council 8 said. “In reality, the nurses at [Nationwide Children’s] make less than other nurses, have concerns about safety and staffing ratios, and have less than adequate paid family leave.”