National Nurses United

EMMC's staff nurses are members of Maine State Nurses/National Nurses United, the largest nurses union in the United States. The union represents 160,000 nurses across the United States, and in the past, one of the tactics the union has used to its concerns about patient safety is to hold one-day strikes at hospitals across the country. EMMC's union nurses held a one day strike in November 2010, and authorized a one day strike in May 2011 if a contract agreement was not reached.

We want our nurses on the job, doing what they do best -- providing care at the bedside. We are committed to doing what we think is right for our patients, the medical center, and the communities we serve. We need to stand on principle to not allow a national union with a national agenda to mandate how we care for our patients, many of whom are our family, friends, and neighbors.

Many of our friends and neighbors at hospitals throughout the country faced similiar one-day strikes, including in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, Hibbing, Minnesota, and Oakland, California.

We encourage you to educate yourself on the local effects of a national agenda. We're also here to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Email us today.

A History of NNU at EMMC
Maine State Nurses Association and National Nurses United have had many interactions with EMMC over the years. The following is a timeline of the history of NNU at EMMC.

June 6, 2012
EMMC's Board of Trustees unanimously approved new three year collective bargaining agreement.

May 29, 2012
EMMC's nurses who are represented by MSNA/NNOC/NNU vote to approve EMMC's final contract offer. The next step is to present the contract offer to EMMC's Board of Trustees with recommendation from the bargaining team for approval.

May 16, 2012
Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United were back at the negotiation table with the federal mediator today. After a short session, EMMC restated its final offer, the union did not respond, and the mediator ended the session around 11:30 am.

May 15, 2012
Union holds an informational picket on EMMC's main campus.

May 10, 2012
Negotiators for EMMC and the union that represents its nurses returned to the bargaining table today. After 11 hours of negotiations, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

May 4, 2012:
EMMC and Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses United are unable to reach a contract agreement before the contract expired. EMMC learned of the union's plans to hold a one day informational picket on its campuses on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

March 2012:
EMMC and Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses United return to bargaining table in the hopes of reaching a nursing contract agreement before current contract expires in May of 2012.

April 28, 2011:
EMMC and union reach a one year agree.

April 13, 2011:
EMMC and union continue negotiation with federal mediator. No resolution of remaining issues.

April 12, 2011:
Union votes to authorize a strike.

February 28, 2011:
EMMC and union continue negotiation with federal mediator. Key issues are: health insurance, charge nurse assignment and language regarding transfers/layoffs.

January 31, 2011:
EMMC and union continue negotiation with federal mediator. Despite compromises on both sides, key issues remain the same.

December 8, 2010:
EMMC and union continue negotiations with the assistance of a federal mediator.

November 29, 2010:
EMMC and union return to the bargaining table. A representative from the Governor’s office was also in attendance. Key issues include: mandated staffing ratios, health insurance, transfer and layoff/bumping language.

November 22-24, 2010:
EMMC locks out striking nurses; care provided by replacement nurses.

November 22, 2010:
Union holds 1-day strike.

November 4, 2010:
Union asks members to vote to accept or reject EMMC final offer; authorizing a potential strike vote.

October 11, 2010:
Union conducts informational picket.

September 30, 2010:
No agreement reached on contract. Nurses continued working while negotiations continued.

July 2010:
EMMC and MSNA/National Nurses United once again began discussions toward a new contract set to expire on September 30, 2011.

2007:
EMMC and MSNA/California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee began to negotiate a new contract. The issues focused on wages, health insurance and benefits. The union threatened a strike if their demands were not met. After 4 months, a contract was signed.

2004:
EMMC and Maine State Nurses Association successfully negotiated a new, three-year contract.

About Us

Healthcare Services

Medical Services

Medical Services (continued)

Patients & Visitors

For Providers

Shared Protocols

National Nurses United

Awards and Recognition