Ascension nurses plan 1st strike in Baltimore

Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, are set to strike July 24 at Ascension St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore — marking the nurses’ first-ever strike.

The union represents more than 600 nurses at the hospital, according to a July 14 committee news release. Ascension St. Agnes is part of St. Louis-based Ascension, which has approximately 99,000 employees.

Workers voted to authorize a strike in May, though the hospital and union have been negotiating a new labor contract since January 2024. Ascension told Becker’s the hospital has been committed to reaching a deal “that respects our nurses’ right to choose whether or not to be dues-paying union members, addresses safe staffing and provides market-competitive wages. In May, St. Agnes drove the implementation of an average wage increase of 9% for full and part-time nurses because it was the right thing to do as bargaining continued.” 

The union contends Ascension management has failed to address nurses’ concerns about what it describes as short staffing, unsafe floating assignments and problems with RN retention. “We want to give our patients the best care at all times, but that is difficult to do when we are stretched too thin,” Nicki Horvat, RN, said in the committee release.

“We remain focused on continuing to bargain in good faith to reach a successful conclusion of these negotiations while ensuring continued access to care for our patients during NNU’s strike,” the hospital added.