ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Pay and staffing issues appear to be at the crux of the standoff between the nurses’ union and Mission Hospital.

National Nurses United, representing more than 1,600 registered nurses at Mission Hospital, announced last week that 97 percent of the nurses who participated in a recent round of voting authorized the union bargaining team to call for a strike “should they deem it necessary.” The union did not release how many nurses voted or what the final tally was.

A union representative said, “Whether or not a strike is called is dependent on what happens at the bargaining table.” The groups are expected to have another session Monday, Sept. 9.

If a strike is called, it will be up to individual nurses whether or not to participate. Those who wish to participate should follow the NNU instructions. Those who do not want to strike should contact their unit leaders and follow their instructions.

Nurses must give 10 days’ notice before beginning a strike.

A Frequently Asked Questions sheet circulated by Mission Health said safety and security would be a priority during a strike.

“The safety and security of our patients and staff are of paramount importance to us. While we don’t expect any significant safety concerns, there would be additional security at the facility for the duration of a strike, including 24/7 security presence,” the document said.

Contract negotiations

The hospital and its unionized nurses have been at the bargaining table since April, trying to reach an agreement. The nurses’ first union contract — ratified in 2021 — expired July 2, 2024.

Dozens of Mission nurses — along with their families, friends and community supporters — held an “informational picket” to share their concerns as the hospital and union continue work on a new contract.

Nurses at the bargaining table said they’re frustrated by HCA’s failure to meet their demands and proposals regarding nurse retention and ensuring meal and rest breaks, an NNU news release said. The nurses union also said HCA has refused to address numerous patient safety issues. Mission Health has continually denied these claims.

“We hope that HCA will come to the bargaining table with proposals that meet the nurses’ demands, not those of just the shareholders. HCA should allocate its vast resources toward improving compensation to help recruit and retain nurses, safely staff the hospital, provide break nurses, stop the abuse of on-call nurses and reduce violence in the hospital,” one nurse’s social media post said.

Nurses continue to say a strike is a last resort. But that clock is ticking.

“If the union decides to move forward with a strike, Mission Hospital is fully prepared to remain open and provide care for our patients. We have plans in place allowing us to be confident that it will be safe for our patients and for any nurse who makes the personal decision to cross the picket line,” HCA Healthcare Division Public and Media Relations Director Nancy Lindell said.

National Nurses United, which represents more than 1,600 registered nurses at Mission Hospital, said 97 percent of the nurses who participated in a recent round of voting authorized the union bargaining team to call for a strike “should they deem it necessary.”

NURSES AT MISSION HOSPITAL VOTE TO AUTHORIZE POSSIBLE STRIKE