Houlton Nurses to Hold Two-Day Strike
Registered nurses at Houlton Regional Hospital (HRH) in Houlton, Maine, will begin their two-day strike on Tuesday, Nov. 18, to protest management’s refusal to address their deep concerns about staffing and patient care, announced Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (MSNA/NNOC).
Hospital CEO Jeff Zewe recently called in RNs who are union leaders into his office and proceeded to pressure the nurses into not speaking up on behalf of themselves and their fellow nurses. This is wildly illegal intimidation and harassment.
Please take a moment now to send Jeff Zewe an email – STOP BEING A BULLY
The nurses gave the hospital notice of their strike on Nov. 7. In September, they voted overwhelming to authorize the bargaining team to call a strike. HRH nurses have been negotiating for over a year for a new contract. The previous contract expired on Nov. 30, 2024.
Short staffing in the emergency department (ED) has been an ongoing issue, particularly during the night shift. Nurses say patients are often housed in hallway beds due to the lack of available inpatient beds and the severity of their conditions. Nurses say the closure of the hospital’s maternal services is putting patient safety at risk. Since July, the hospital no longer provides labor and delivery or postpartum services, so ED nurses have to stabilize pregnant patients for transport elsewhere and to deliver babies in the emergency room.
“This is a close community; our patients are our neighbors,” said Tenille Nason, RN in the emergency department. “We have seen over the last five years the emergency department consistently filled with sicker patients. To provide optimal, timely care, sicker patients require additional staffing, but staffing has not changed. We need to do better for our community.”
Who: Registered nurses at Houlton Regional Hospital
What: Two-day strike for patient safety and a fair contract
When: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6:45 a.m. to Thursday, Nov. 20, 6:44 a.m.
Where:HRH, 20 Hartford St., Houlton
“For the past several years, hospital management has consistently relied on travel nurses to help staff the hospital,” said Michael MacArthur, RN in the emergency department. “We need to retain our experienced nurses who live in the area. We get plenty of nurses to come, but they leave. We need a strong contract that protects us and our patients and attracts and retains excellent nurses.”
Other union members and allies are encouraged to join the picket line in Houlton. If you're interested in joining contact Sarah Bigney-McCabe, sarah@maineaflcio.org