The Illinois Nurses Association (INA) filed a motion with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) declaring its intent to form a collective-bargaining unit for non-nursing staff within the Howard Brown Health system.
If approved, the motion, filed Feb. 8, could lead to representation of more than 400 employees throughout the system, which is composed of about a dozen health center locations and and Brown Elephant Resale Stores, according to a statement.
Howard Brown's nursing staff unionized with INA and won their first Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2019. The medical system, which largely centers services for LGBTQ+ Chicagoans, has expanded aggressively in the last several years, opening numerous facilities throughout various neighborhoods in the city.
"The nurses love their work, their mission, and the patients that they serve, but many have seen their coworkers suffer due to short staffing, long hours, unsafe working conditions, inadequate pay and benefits, inconsistent and unfair labor practices, and unsustainable labor turnover," said Julia Bartmes, executive director of INA.
Bartmes added, "The same issues that impact the nurses affect their coworkers in equal measure, but they do not yet have a seat at the table, or the protections afforded by a collective bargaining agreement. Now the rest of Howard Brown workers are organizing with INA to rectify that, and to ensure that all workers at Howard Brown can collectively and effectively advocate for a higher quality of care for patients. The workers at Howard Brown, including INA nurses, understand that we are stronger when we stand together in solidarity."
A hearing date on INA's motion has yet to be scheduled.
