Full Statement From Ascension St. Joseph Regarding The Nurses Strike/Lockout

Full Statement From Ascension St. Joseph Regarding The Nurses Strike/Lockout:

Patient safety is our top priority, and Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet is open and well-prepared to continue to provide patient-centered, holistic care during this unfortunate strike. We have a comprehensive plan in place to ensure there is no disruption in service for those who are entrusted to our care.

Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet is following national best practice for implementing a strike contingency plan that is compliant with The Joint Commission, OSHA, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In order to fulfill our commitment to uninterrupted quality care for our patients, we have contracted with a staffing agency that specializes in work stoppage events and has provided us with a full complement of highly skilled and credentialed registered nurses.

Regardless of the planned duration of the strike event, we are contractually required to commit to a minimum of four days of work for any registered nursing staff replaced, starting from the first day of a strike. Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet represented registered nurses will be temporarily replaced starting the first day of the strike on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, and will be able to return to their scheduled shifts beginning the morning of Saturday, August 26, 2023, as soon as our replacement agency contractual obligation is fulfilled. This decision is guided by our commitment to safe, high-quality, compassionate care for our patients, and our responsibility to the appropriate stewardship of vital resources.

Notwithstanding this disheartening strike, we will continue to negotiate in good faith to come to a mutually beneficial agreement on an initial contract that respects the human dignity and rights of all. We look forward to returning the focus to resolving issues at the bargaining table and reaching agreement on a fair and reasonable collective bargaining agreement for our registered nurses.