In a significant move for health care workers, 860 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses at UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh have voted to unionize, joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). This decision signals a growing recognition of the need for improved working conditions and patient care, particularly in the wake of ongoing staffing challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The nurses’ primary concern mirrors a national trend; they expressed frustration over being unable to provide the quality of care patients require. Many have felt unheard by hospital management, prompting their collective action. UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital, well-known for its labor and delivery services, is the first hospital within the UPMC system to form a union.
The trend of unionization among health care workers is noteworthy. While overall union membership in the United States has declined from 2000 to 2024, sectors like health care have seen a slight increase of 0.2%. Notably, in 2023, approximately 400 physicians in the Allina Health Care System also voted to unionize, demonstrating a broader movement within the industry.
Union representation is particularly critical for nurses, as research indicates that unionized health care facilities often provide better working conditions. Hospitals with unionized staff typically offer higher wages, improved job retention, and better patient outcomes. According to National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the country with a membership exceeding 225,000, these factors are vital for both nurses and patients alike.
Nurses at Magee have cited increasing workloads since the pandemic began. Jean Stone, a member of the obstetric resource team, noted that the pressures were high even before COVID-19, but the situation became dire during the pandemic. She described the experience as “apocalyptic,” with nurses facing overwhelming demands.
Many health care professionals had hoped for systemic changes following the pandemic. Instead, staff reported that hospitals intensified profit-driven strategies, often neglecting employee welfare. Lucy Rose Ruccio, a neonatal nurse practitioner, highlighted troubling incidents where inadequate staffing led to dangerous oversights in patient care. In one instance, a critical medication for a newborn was not administered due to a failure in the hospital’s electronic medical records system, although the infant fortunately recovered.
Despite facing these challenges, the unionization vote has instilled a sense of hope among the nurses. Alix Levy, an emergency department nurse at Magee, expressed optimism, stating, “We did this one good thing, and that can’t be taken away.”
The importance of appropriate nurse staffing levels is gaining recognition on a national scale. In March 2024, the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, added nurse staffing to its National Performance Goals. This acknowledgment reflects a broader understanding of the critical role nurses play in delivering quality health care.
The Magee nurses are eager to negotiate their union contract, recognizing that meaningful change is more achievable through collective action. If systemic issues in health care are rooted in corporate practices, unionization may serve as a remedy, offering a path forward for both workers and patients.
As the situation unfolds, the implications of this unionization effort at Magee may extend beyond Pittsburgh, influencing health care practices and labor movements across the nation. The collective actions of these nurses could ultimately reshape the landscape of health care, placing greater emphasis on both employee rights and patient care quality.
