ST. LOUIS — Nurses at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital will strike for 24 hours beginning Monday, Sept. 25, at 7 a.m. until 6:59 a.m. Tuesday to protest “deep concerns” that have not been resolved through contract negotiations that started in May.

What You Need To Know

  • Some SLU Hospital nurses are going on strike for 24 hours starting Monday at 7 a.m.

  • The union says it is protesting patient care, safe staffing and workplace violence

  • SSM released a statement saying patient care would not impacted by the strike and points out "many of the hospital's nurses have chosen not to join the strike"

  • In a statement, SSM Health said the union has not responded to its proposals or offered any counter proposals since Aug. 29

Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC) authorized a strike in a vote taken Sept. 1. Nurses gave a 10-day warning to let hospitals make alternate plans for patient care.

The union says the hospital’s job vacancy rate has been above 30% since the spring of 2022 and that there’s been little movement in contract negotiations since they began in May. The union also says it is concerned about patient care, safe staffing and workplace violence.

“We are striking because SSM Health must do more to recruit and retain nurses,” said Maddi O’Leary, RN in the bone marrow transplant clinic at SLU Hospital. “SSM Health has hired more than 1,600 nurses since 2020, but most of those nurses have left. Hundreds of RN positions — more than 30 percent of all nursing positions at SLU Hospital — have not been filled since the spring of 2022.”

In a statement, SSM Health said the union has not responded to its proposals or offered any counter proposals since Aug. 29.

Hospital officials also questioned the union’s tactics in authorizing a strike, saying it excluded more than 40% of the hospital's nurses because they didn't pay union dues.

“When the union is ready to engage, we remain committed to reaching an agreement that provides our nurses with a strong, market competitive compensation and benefits package — while ensuring continued exceptional care and service,” SSM said in a statement after the strike was announced.

SSM released a statement saying patient care would not impacted by the strike.

"Patient safety remains our top priority. We have comprehensive plans in place to ensure there is no disruption in care or service. All operations will continue uninterrupted – and patients will continue to receive high-quality, compassionate and expert care."

SSM also pointed out in a statement that many of the SLU Hospital nurses have chosen not to join the strike.