ABC7Chicago, February 7, 2007 Dozens of nurses took part in a vocal protest over proposed cuts in the Cook County budget Wednesday night. They rallied outside the former 8th Ward office of board president Todd Stroger, 8539 S. Cottage Grove. The nurses claim that Stroger has been missing during recent debates over the budget. They even made a 10-foot milk carton with a picture of Stroger on the side. The nurses hope to convince Stroger to not cut back on healthcare programs and school clinics. They say the cuts are especially discouraging given the fact Stroger just promoted his cousin at a six-figure salary. ... Nurses

Pepe Lozano, People's Weekly World, January 25, 2007 Chicago - The battle to fund human needs instead of war or tax breaks for the super-rich found its expression right in the heart of the Midwest. A serious fightback is emerging here, after newly elected Cook County Board President Todd Stroger (D) proposed major cuts that would slash the county budget by 17 percent. “These cuts are shortsighted and irresponsible,” said Henry Bayer, executive director of Illinois Council 31, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 6,000 workers in the county. AFSCME represents scores of public defenders who may lose their jobs, forcing delays in resolving court cases and resulting in increased costs. But it is the draconian cuts to health services that have captured most of the attention. ... If

One County Commissioner Says Doctors Cheating The System Might Be Adding To Fiscal Woes. CBS2 Chicago, January 18, 2007 Chicago - Nurses protested outside John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital Of Cook County Thursday night, saying they are concerned about what proposed budget cuts would to do patient care there. About 1.5 million uninsured or under-insured people get their healthcare at the county level. CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov reports one county commissioner actually took part in the protest. Another commissioner, the chairman of the Stroger Hospital committee, says the county's doctors may be part of the problem. Stroger Hospital nurses who work to save lives and care for the sick every day say they have reached the breaking point. ... Nurses

Cruel, 17% Healthcare Cuts Would Have a Devastating Effect on Chicago Patients. National Nurses Organizing Committee, January 16, 2007 Registered nurses from across the Cook County Bureau of Health Services system will hold a candlelight vigil this Thursday, January 18th at 5 PM to protest the devastating effects of a proposed 17 percent cut in the healthcare budget, the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association (NNOC/CNA) announces today. A full analysis of the budget will be presented at the vigil. ... Cook

Vanessa Phillips, Medill News Service, October 6, 2006 Nurses protested outside Stroger Hospital on Thursday about a federal ruling that some health care workers qualify as supervisors and cannot belong to a union. The National Labor Relations Board ruled Tuesday that "charge nurses," who regularly run shifts at medical facilities, should be considered supervisors, which would exempt them from protections covered by federal labor law. About two dozen nurses took part in the noon rally organized by the National Nurses Organizing Committee, which represents 1,800 Cook County nurses. ... Nurses

Mike Comerford, Chicago Daily Herald, July 13, 2006

What makes a nurse a supervisor is at the heart of a labor protest today in downtown Chicago, one of almost 20 across the nation in coming weeks aimed at heading off a National Labor Relations Board finding later this summer.

In Chicago’s financial district today, more than 100 union workers, mostly nurses working for Cook County, are expected to protest.

At issue is whether hospitals can decide which nurses to deem supervisors, rendering them ineligible for union membership. ... Cook

Nurses Cite Gains in Pay, Patient Safety Issues.
NNOC, June 29, 2006

In a strong show of support for their nurse negotiators and their new union, the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association (NNOC/CNA), registered nurses who work in Cook County Bureau of Health Services facilities have ratified their first NNOC/CNA contract by an 88% vote, the nurses announced today.

The agreement provides substantial improvements in safety standards and in achieving pay parity with other hospitals in the region. ... Cook

John Huston, Palatine Countryside, June 29, 2006

A week before a scheduled strike, the 1,800 registered nurses in Cook County's health services bureau reached a contract agreement with county officials.

Negotiators for both Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee, which represents the nurses' union, came to agreement June 22.

The contract, which still must be ratified by both sides, "achieves the nurses' primary goals," according to an NNOC statement. ... County

RNs Say NNOC/CNA Link Will Raise Standards for All RNs and Patients.
NNOC, June 23, 2006

Cook County Bureau of Health Services registered nurses have reached a tentative agreement with county officials for their first collective bargaining agreement under their new union, the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association (NNOC/CNA), the nurses announced today.

A settlement that achieves the nurses' primary goals was reached late Thursday night after months of difficult contract talks and the authorization of a strike by the 1,800 CCBHS RNs. ... RNs

WIFR, June 25, 2006

Discussion is going on here in Illinois to pass a similar mandate.

Registered nurses from the area and members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee held a public forum. This is all to gain support for Illinois Senate Bill 2270. This would make sure that there are enough nurses in our facilities and held increase safe patient care conditions. ... Nurse to Patient Ratio

Associated Press, June 23, 2006

Chicago - A little more than a year after switching unions, nurses working for Cook County have agreed to a tentative contract that would put their pay on par with nurses working for top-tier hospitals in the area, union representatives said Friday.

The county and the 1,800 nurses agreed to the deal Thursday night after months of contract talks and the threat of a strike.

The agreement still must be ratified by the union's ranks. Membership meetings will be held early next week to vote on the proposal. ... Cook County

Mike Colias, Crain’s Chicago Business, June 23, 2006

Cook County on Friday reached a tentative agreement with its nurses union, which had threatened to stage a one-day strike on June 30 if a deal had not been reached.

The National Nurses Organizing Committee says details of the pact won’t be disclosed until after its 1,800 members vote on it next week. In a statement, the union said the agreement “achieves parity in compensation” with other hospitals in the Chicago area, preserves members’ health benefits and gives registered nurses a greater say in patient-care decisions. ... Cook County

Jonathan Lipman, Chicago Daily Southtown, June 20, 2006

Cook County nurses have delayed the one-day strike originally scheduled for Friday, saying they want to concentrate on negotiations scheduled for the day before.

The National Nurses Organizing Committee now says its roughly 1,800 members at Stroger, Provident and Oak Forest hospitals and county health clinics will walk out June 30 unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations. ... Nurses

Chicago Sun-Times, June 19, 2006

The spotlight will be on 1,800 Cook County registered nurses this week, whose union vowed earlier this month to stage a one-day strike Friday if no contract agreement is reached by then.

Key economic issues remain unresolved.

The two sides last met June 6, said Sheilah Garland Olaniran, a spokeswoman for the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association. The union represents RNs at three hospitals, more than 20 community clinics, four public health offices, the county jail and the juvenile detention center. ... County

Chicago Tribune, June 6, 2006

Cook County - Cook County's nurses union on Monday announced plans for a one-day strike on June 23 if "substantial progress" is not made at the bargaining table.

The union, which represents 1,800 registered nurses throughout the county's public health system, said that after months of talks, critical issues of pay and workplace conditions remain unresolved. ... Nurses