Local nurses hail historic union vote in NC

Local nurses hailed Thursday’s historic union vote in North Carolina as nurses at Mission Hospital voted in a landslide -- 965 to 411 -- to join National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, the nation’s largest RN union. “This victory shows us that unions continue to be a powerful tool bringing nurses and the community together to fight for health care, workers’ rights and social justice,” said DC Nurses Association Executive Director Ed Smith. “DCNA is proud of our new brothers and sisters in Asheville.” The Mission RNs prevailed over a heavily funded anti-union campaign by the hospital owner, HCA, the largest hospital system in the United States, and arguably the most politically and economically influential giant in the hospital industry. “This fight isn’t just for us and our working conditions--this is about the health and well-being of our community,” said Kelly Graham, palliative care RN at Mission. Next up, the nurses will elect a team to represent them in contract negotiations with management for their first union contract.

---