NEWS

2025 Nurse Strikes: Complete List of Active and Planned Strikes

Written By: Brandy Pinkerton

RN, Travel Nurse

13 Min Read Published August 29, 2025

Current Nurse Strikes
Pending Nursing Strikes
Recently Passed Nursing Strikes:
Reasons for Nurse Strikes

2025 Nurse Strikes: Complete List of Active and Planned Strikes

Recent years have shown a significant rise in nursing strikes, with more and more nurses utilizing their unionizations to fight for better pay and safer working conditions for both patients and staff.

Here's where the nursing strikes are currently standing in 2025.

Get Breaking Nurse News and Exclusive Discounts Straight to Your Inbox!

Current Nurse Strikes

Butler Hospital (Rhode Island): The strike at Butler Hospital, which began on May 15, 2025, remains ongoing and continues to impact hospital operations. On July 29–30, striking union members voted overwhelmingly (98%) to reject the hospital management’s “last, best, and final” contract offer, citing concerns over low wage proposals for support staff, increased healthcare deductibles, and other working conditions. The hospital has responded by closing dozens of beds, posting openings for permanent replacements, and freezing wages and healthcare benefits for striking staff. Negotiations are at a standstill as workers seek improved safety, higher pay, and better returning rights for those out on workers’ comp. The strike is now the longest hospital strike in Rhode Island’s history and shows no signs of immediate resolution the nurses’ strike at Butler Hospital in Rhode Island is still ongoing, with no agreement reached between union members and hospital management. The hospital has begun hiring permanent replacements for striking workers, and some strikers have returned to work, but most remain on the picket line demanding better wages, safety, and staffing. Negotiations continue, but the situation remains unresolved.

MercyHealth East Clinic in Janesville, Wisconsin: Nurses and other staff members at have been on strike for a month as of early August 2025. More than 130 workers, represented by UAW Local 95, are demanding better pay, improved work conditions, and affordable healthcare, citing concerns over rising healthcare costs and what they call inadequate wage increases. Community support for the striking workers has been strong, with rallies highlighting the dispute, while the clinic’s management maintains that patient care will not be disrupted during the strike.

https://www.tiktok.com/@region4uaw/video/7529648414976527671?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7534151979251254797

Pending Nursing Strikes
UC San Diego Health (California): recent labor actions involving service and technical workers (including patient care roles). In July 2025, AFSCME members staged a 24-hour strike over layoffs, affecting nursing assistants and senior nurse aides. In August, union members—including nurses—held a statewide day of action urging management to resolve ongoing contract negotiations and address concerns about staffing, job security, and workplace safety. Contract talks are active and tensions remain high, though no new mass strike is currently scheduled.
Twin Cities and Duluth Hospitals (Minnesota): Nurses at several hospitals in the Twin Cities and Duluth areas have held informational pickets and are bargaining for new contracts. Their contracts have expired, and if negotiations do not progress, a strike could be called in the coming months.
UCSF Health (California): Early summer 2025 saw labor unrest at UCSF Health, especially at UCSF Children’s Hospital. The NUHW called off a planned strike after management announced 200 system-wide layoffs. Nurses and allied health staff continue to advocate for strong union contracts, with bargaining and possible action pending as many contracts are set to expire in October 2025.

Recently Passed Nursing Strikes:

West Anaheim Medical Center (California): Nurses are set to hold a one-day strike on August 12, 2025, to protest management’s refusal to address persistent nurse turnover and concerns over patient safety and staffing levels. The strike, organized by the California Nurses Association, aims to pressure hospital leadership to invest in retaining experienced staff, adhere to legal nurse-to-patient ratios, and ensure safer working conditions for both patients and nurses. Contract negotiations have stalled after months of talks, with management declaring an impasse despite nurses’ calls for improved workplace standards.
Essentia Health Facilities (Minnesota): As of July 31, 2025, The strike by acute care nurses and advanced practice providers at several Duluth and Superior hospitals and Essentia Health clinics is no longer active as of late July 2025. Both the clinic workers and advanced practice providers, represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, ended their strike and began returning to work starting July 22–23, 2025. The two-week (for nurses) and 13-day (for advanced practice providers) strike brought attention to ongoing contract disputes over staffing and working conditions.Negotiations between the union and Essentia Health are still ongoing, and while the strike itself has concluded, some returning workers have reported delays in being scheduled back into their roles due to the hospital retaining temporary staff for several days after the strike officially ended. Despite this, the strike action itself is not currently active, and both union members and management are continuing to work toward a contract resolution advanced practice providers (including nurse practitioners and physician assistants) across 69 Essentia Health facilities in Northern Minnesota began an open-ended unfair labor practice strike. Acute care nurses at several Duluth and Superior hospitals and clinics joined the strike on July 8, 2025, after months of unsuccessful contract negotiations.
Hospice East Bay, CA: Hospice nurses and clinical staff held a one-day strike on July 29, 2025, at their Pleasant Hill headquarters, protesting unresolved contract negotiations and rising patient caseloads. Nearly 80 workers—nurses, chaplains, social workers, and more—walked off the job to demand stronger staffing protections and safer workloads as the organization faces affiliation with a national hospice chain. Negotiations are ongoing, and the strike highlighted the staff’s concerns about patient care quality and labor standards.
Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD: launched a one-day strike today, July 24, 2025, following 18 months of contract negotiations that failed to produce an agreement. The primary issues at stake are staffing levels and patient safety, with nurses advocating for improved working conditions to ensure quality care. One-day action concluded; nurses have returned as negotiations proceed, but a contract resolution is still pending.
University Medical Center (New Orleans, LA): Nurses represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee (an affiliate of National Nurses United), began a two-day strike on July 15, marking the hospital’s fourth nursing strike in less than a year. The walkout involves around 600 nurses and centers on concerns over staffing levels, workplace safety, and ongoing contract negotiations. Nurses and union leaders have cited persistent challenges that have led to repeated labor actions at the facility.

Chestnut Hill Hospital (Pennsylvania) – A threatened strike at Chestnut Hill Hospital has been averted. On June 27, 2025, PASNAP nurses and technicians voted to ratify a new contract with Temple Health, reaching an agreement just days before the planned July 4 strike date. Hospital operations remain uninterrupted, and the new contract is now in effect .
Macomb Hospital (Michigan): launched a 3 day strike at a 288-bed tertiary teaching facility in Mount Clemens, Michigan. The union, representing 700 nurses and support staff, took action to protest issues such as unsafe staffing levels, workplace conditions, and wage concerns. The walkout underscored ongoing tensions between hospital management and frontline healthcare workers over working conditions and patient care priorities.
Henry Ford Rochester Hospital (Michigan): The strike began on June 9 and is scheduled to last three days, ending on the morning of June 12. The hospital has brought in replacement nurses to cover shifts during the strike.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth: 420 registered nurses gave official notice to BID administration that they will be holding a vote to authorize a three-day strike and conducting an informational picket outside the Plymouth Public Library on Thursday, March 20th. Both events culminate a month’s long effort to convince BID management of the need for significant improvements in staffing, along with other provisions in a new union contract to allow the facility to recruit and retain the staff needed to provide safer patient care. (Update) As of June 5, 2025 , no strike has been scheduled by the registered nurses at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, despite their overwhelming vote on March 20 to authorize a potential three-day strike. The nurses, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), are still engaged in contract negotiations with hospital management. As of June 10, 2025, the nurses have ratified a new contract, and no strike is scheduled or active. Contract negotiations have concluded with an agreement that aims to address the nurses.
UnityPoint Health-Meriter (Madison, WI): Hundreds of nurses at UnityPoint Health-Meriter in Madison, Wisconsin, represented by SEIU, ended a five-day strike on June 1, 2025, after contract talks stalled over staffing, safety, and compensation concerns. The union is demanding better pay, enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios, and improved security measures, while hospital management says contingency plans are in place to maintain patient care during the strike.
Orange County, CA (West Anaheim Medical Center): A group of health care workers ended a 5 day strike, citing low pay and high turnover.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center (Washington): Two out of three staff unions in Bellingham have announced a five-day strike starting Monday, May 12 and concluded at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025 amid ongoing contract negotiations. The main issues driving the strike are increased health insurance costs, subpar wages, and concerns about respect and working conditions.
Long Beach Medical Center & Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital & Alhambra Hospital Medical Center (CA): Up to 2,000 nurses are set to strike for 24 hours starting May 22, 2025, protesting unsafe working conditions and inadequate staffing. The strike is expected to impact emergency, ICU, and pediatric care.
Western New York Nursing Homes: Nearly 1,000 nursing home workers represented by 1199SEIU began a seven-day strike on May 20, 2025, at five for-profit facilities near Buffalo, New York: Absolut Care of Gasport, Elderwood at Lockport, Elderwood at Williamsville, Garden Gate Manor, and NorthGate Manor. The workers are protesting unfair labor practices, including bad faith bargaining, low wages, and inadequate benefits. The strike follows months of stalled contract negotiations and will continue until May 27, with caregivers walking picket lines daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Settlements were reached at six other facilities, narrowing the strike to these five locations.
Southeast Michigan Nursing Homes: Over 300 SEIU Healthcare of Michigan members held a 24-hour strike on May 20, 2025, at five Ciena Healthcare nursing facilities in Southeast Michigan, demanding better pay, benefits, and staffing. Workers have been without contracts for months and say the strike was necessary to push for fair wages, paid sick time, and improved working conditions.

University Medical Center New Orleans (UMCNO): began a one-day strike on May 1, 2025, marking their third walkout since contract negotiations started over a year ago. Represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, nearly 600 nurses are striking to demand stronger protections against workplace violence, improved staffing, and fairer wages.

Geisinger Health System’s Luzerne County: Previously from February 17 to February 21, 2025, involved approximately 800 nurses from three Luzerne County facilities in Pennsylvania. The five-day strike was organized by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania to address concerns over understaffing, low pay, affordable healthcare, and workplace safety. Affected facilities included Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, and Geisinger Healthplex CenterPoint. Negotiations between the union and Geisinger management resumed on February 19, during the strike. Although nurses returned to work on February 22.
CRONA Nurses Strike: The Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement (CRONA) has announced a strike starting April 25, 2025. Over 5,000 nurses at Stanford and Packard hospitals will participate due to unresolved contract negotiations after 13 weeks of bargaining.
University of California System Strike: A one-day strike is occurring today, April 1, 2025, involving over 20,000 healthcare, research, and technical professionals across the UC system. Organized by the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), this strike addresses issues such as staffing shortages, unfair labor practices, and increased healthcare costs without negotiation. The action affects all UC campuses and medical centers statewide
Santa Clara County Health Workers: Nearly 200 clinical lab scientists, microbiologists, and other health workers in Santa Clara County striked March 24 through March 28. This action impacts facilities such as Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and O’Connor Hospital. The strike stems from disputes over labor contract terms and staffing policies
University of California healthcare: Approximately 20,000 University of California healthcare, research, and technical employees began a three-day strike on February 26, 2025, across multiple UC campuses and medical centers. The strike, organized by UPTE-CWA Local 9119, aims to address issues such as unfair labor practices, inadequate staffing, and demands for higher wages, while UC denies claims of a staffing crisis and states it has offered improved compensation.
Providence Health & Services: After 46 days on the picket line and more than a year of negotiations, nearly 5,000 frontline nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) have secured a historic win. All eight registered nurse bargaining units at Providence hospitals overwhelmingly ratified new contracts, ending the strike and establishing new standards for wages, staffing, and patient safety in one of Oregon's largest healthcare systems. In a significant move that could reshape labor dynamics in Oregon, the state Senate has passed a bill allowing striking workers to receive unemployment benefits. This legislation marks a notable shift in how the state approaches labor disputes and could have far-reaching implications for nurses and healthcare workers who may engage in strikes.
University Medical Center (UMC): Experienced its second strike by nurses on February 5-6, 2025. The two-day strike in New Orleans, organized by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), involved more than 600 nurses advocating for improved staffing levels and workplace safety measures. UMC management implemented a three-day lockout of striking nurses, extending through Super Bowl weekend but returned to work after.
Newton-Wellesley Hospital (MA) - December 2024: A tentative contract agreement was reached following an informational picket and strike authorization vote. Key provisions include a 15.5% wage increase with retroactive pay to April 2024, enhanced workplace violence policies with post-crisis support, and expanded bargaining rights for off-site ambulatory nurses and nurse practitioners. The agreement, effective through March 31, 2027, aims to improve recruitment, retention, and patient care quality.
St. Joseph Medical Center (Tacoma, WA) - December 2024: A new contract was overwhelmingly approved that includes the highest wages for nurses in Pierce County, equal pay for international nurses based on experience, and robust workplace safety measures like weapon detectors and locked units. Staffing improvements include break nurses, a weekend-only shift, and fair call shift allocation. The agreement was reached after extensive negotiations and reflects significant progress in equity, safety, and working conditions.
Lower Bucks Hospital (Bristol, PA) - December 2024: A new three-year labor contract with 83% support after 15 months of negotiations was approved. Key provisions include new nursing positions to improve staffing, protections against layoffs, and increased wages averaging 14% over three years, with additional pay based on experience. The agreement also enhances on-call pay, differentials, and holiday hours, aiming to address retention and recognize the contributions of frontline caregivers while prioritizing patient care.
University of Illinois Health - November 2024: The union says they reached an agreement with the administration. The terms of the 4-year contract have not been disclosed.
Maui Health, Kaiser - November 2024: Negotiations between UNHCEH and Maui Health, representing over 900 healthcare workers, stalled over proposed staffing ratios, leading the union to initiate a three-day strike on November 4, 2024. The strike affected Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lanai Community Hospital. UNHCEH seeks staffing ratios similar to those agreed upon by Kaiser Permanente in California, which Maui Health management has rejected.
University Medical Center (UMC: in New Orleans held a one-day strike on October 25, 2024. This decision came after months of unsuccessful contract negotiations between the nurses' union and hospital management, with patient safety concerns at the forefront of the dispute. They were locked out of the hospital on October 26, 2024, and have not reached an agreement.
Hawaii Nurses’ Association (HNA): Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Honolulu, Hawaii - October 2024: After over a year of negotiations, a new three-year contract has been finalized.

Providence Joint Strike: Providence Medford, Providence Hood River, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence St. Vincent, and Providence Milwaukie, Oregon. Ended
Loretto Hospital (Chicago, IL)
McLaren Lapeer Regional Hospital (Lapeer, MI)
Providence Portland Medical Center (Portland, OR)
Marin Health Medical Center (Greenbrae, CA)
Mount Sinai Health, Montefiore Health System, and Wyckoff Hospital (New York, NY)
National Nurses United (NNU) National Day of Action (nationwide)
Ascension Seton Medical Center (Austin, TX)
Kaiser Permanente (California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Virginia and Washington D.C.)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick, NJ)
Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey (Marina del Rey, California)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute-Merrimack Valley (Boston, Massachusetts)
Ascension Saint Joseph-Joliet (Joliet, Illinois)
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital (Smithtown, New York)
Sutter Center for Psychiatry (Sacramento, CA)
MyMichigan Medical Center Sault (Sault Ste. Marie, MI)
Sacred Heart Home Care Services (Springfield, OH)
St. Joseph Hospital (St. Juliet, MI)
University of Chicago Medicine (Chicago, IL)

Reasons for Nurse Strikes

Nurses go on strike for many systemic reasons including, but not limited to, inadequate pay, unsafe working conditions, and unsafe staffing ratios. Often, with the assistance of their union, nurses work to negotiate contracts with their employers. Oftentimes, nurses are able to negotiate a better contract without the need to go on strike.

However, sometimes negotiations reach a standstill, with neither party reaching an agreement. When this happens, nurses protest by refusing to go to work until agreeable terms are met.

In particular, safer nurse-to-patient staffing ratios have been at the forefront of concerns that have driven recent nursing strike authorizations across the country.

According to the 2023 State of Nursing Report conducted by Nurse.org, 91% of nurses believe the nursing shortage is getting worse and that burnout, poor working conditions, and inadequate pay are the primary causes. In addition, 79% of nurses said their units are inadequately staffed and 71% said that improving staffing ratios would have the greatest impact on the nursing shortage.

Nurses are becoming more vocal about these feelings and experiences and are choosing to take action through striking.