Reinstate Fired Nurses and End Union Interference at St. Mary of Nazareth
The Issue
When Prime Healthcare bought St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago in March 2025, nurses say conditions started getting worse almost immediately. Staffing shortages worsened. Experienced nurses were replaced by less experienced ones. Cheaper supplies appeared on the floors. Life-saving addiction medications were removed from psychiatric units. In the behavioral health unit, the monitors staff relied on to watch over at-risk patients disappeared.
These aren't small complaints. They are safety issues — for patients and the nurses who care for them.
When nurses began organizing to have a voice about these conditions — filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union election — at least six of them were fired. These were not new employees. Karlie Thorn had worked in the emergency department for four years. Jesus Hernandez served as a behavioral health nurse for seven years. Aimee Bae spent more than seven years in the psychiatric unit. They were experienced, dedicated nurses — exactly the kind of staff patients depend on.
"I think it sent a message to the nurses in our community that we're expendable, and when we speak up for each other, they'll get rid of us with no just cause," Thorn said after her firing.
The nurses who remain are now stretched dangerously thin. Emergency room nurses who typically care for five patients are now caring for seven — because colleagues were fired or left due to unsafe conditions. "It's just not safe for us to have 25 people in the waiting room and each nurse already has four to five patients," Thorn said.
More than 400 registered nurses at St. Mary of Nazareth have filed a notice to strike on June 11 — not because they want to leave their patients, but because they believe patient care depends on safe staffing and a workplace free from fear. "Patient care is our top concern and is at the forefront of our fight," said ICU nurse Brenda Hernández. "We are striking because terminating experienced nurses has left the hospital short staffed."
We are asking Prime Healthcare to reinstate the fired nurses immediately, and stop interfering with workers' right to a free and fair union election. Nurses deserve to advocate for themselves and for their patients without fear of losing their jobs. Patients at St. Mary of Nazareth deserve experienced, stable care.
Sign this petition to tell Prime Healthcare: bring these nurses back, and let the workers vote.
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The Issue
When Prime Healthcare bought St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago in March 2025, nurses say conditions started getting worse almost immediately. Staffing shortages worsened. Experienced nurses were replaced by less experienced ones. Cheaper supplies appeared on the floors. Life-saving addiction medications were removed from psychiatric units. In the behavioral health unit, the monitors staff relied on to watch over at-risk patients disappeared.
These aren't small complaints. They are safety issues — for patients and the nurses who care for them.
When nurses began organizing to have a voice about these conditions — filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union election — at least six of them were fired. These were not new employees. Karlie Thorn had worked in the emergency department for four years. Jesus Hernandez served as a behavioral health nurse for seven years. Aimee Bae spent more than seven years in the psychiatric unit. They were experienced, dedicated nurses — exactly the kind of staff patients depend on.
"I think it sent a message to the nurses in our community that we're expendable, and when we speak up for each other, they'll get rid of us with no just cause," Thorn said after her firing.
The nurses who remain are now stretched dangerously thin. Emergency room nurses who typically care for five patients are now caring for seven — because colleagues were fired or left due to unsafe conditions. "It's just not safe for us to have 25 people in the waiting room and each nurse already has four to five patients," Thorn said.
More than 400 registered nurses at St. Mary of Nazareth have filed a notice to strike on June 11 — not because they want to leave their patients, but because they believe patient care depends on safe staffing and a workplace free from fear. "Patient care is our top concern and is at the forefront of our fight," said ICU nurse Brenda Hernández. "We are striking because terminating experienced nurses has left the hospital short staffed."
We are asking Prime Healthcare to reinstate the fired nurses immediately, and stop interfering with workers' right to a free and fair union election. Nurses deserve to advocate for themselves and for their patients without fear of losing their jobs. Patients at St. Mary of Nazareth deserve experienced, stable care.
Sign this petition to tell Prime Healthcare: bring these nurses back, and let the workers vote.
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Petition created on June 4, 2026