JOLIET, Ill. — Over 500 Illinois Nurses Association union members began a two-day strike here Nov. 21, demanding increased staffing and higher wages. A walkout in August failed to win a new contract.
“We want to provide safe, quality care because that’s what our patients deserve,” Raquel Mata, who has 50 years seniority and works in the pediatrics department, told the Militant.
“The hospital is offering wage increases to those with less than 20 years seniority, but no raises for those of us who’ve been on the job longer,” she added.
“We are picketing to prevent deliveries to the hospital. Teamster drivers for UPS have refused to cross our picket line,” said striker Jennifer Reyes.
When the nurses went on strike, hospital bosses locked the union members out for four days, bringing in scabs from a staffing agency.
“I would not work here without the union,” Mary Sue Bulger, who works in the medical telemetry department, said. “Staffing is a big problem. We’ve lost 350 nurses over the past five years.”
Despite the cold rainy weather, strikers’ spirits were high, cheering when passing vehicles honked to show support.