CHICAGO (WLS) — Leadership at University of Illinois Health announced Sunday that they have an initial four-year contract with the Illinois Nurses Association after nurses went on strike to demand higher wages.
Nurses returned to work on Sunday after a four-day strike. The first day of the strike began Wednesday on Chicago's Near West Side. This is the second strike carried out by the union this year.
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The union says the deal includes improvements to hospital safety protocols, a pay increase, and bedside nurses' input into staffing decisions. The full union must still vote on the contract.
“The INA tentative agreement is for a 4-year contract from 2024-2028,” said a Sunday statement from UI Health Hospital and Clinics leadership. “The striking INA nurses will return to work at 7 a.m. on Sunday, November 17. Details of the tentative agreement will be available after it is ratified by union members.”
UI Health said they value the critical role nurses play in providing patients with exceptional care, outcomes and experiences.
Union leadership told ABC7 on Wednesday that they had been fighting for a new contract for months after they said a proposed 2% pay increase wasn't enough for nurses.
Before the first INA strike in August, UI Health obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent some registered nurses in critical care units from striking in order to keep the hospital operating. These people remained working while more than 1,700 of their colleagues went on strike.
ABC7 reached out to INA for a statement following UI Health's announcement on Sunday and is awaiting a response.
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