Corewell Health Nurses Vote Overwhelmingly to Strike

Nurses at Corewell Health East, represented by Teamsters Local 2024, have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, with nearly 90% in favor. The union, comprising approximately ten thousand nurses across nine hospitals and campuses in southeastern Michigan, expressed strong dissatisfaction with current contract negotiations.

Union representatives allege that hospital executives are gambling with nurse safety and patient care while prioritizing profits. They state that nurses are leaving the profession due to a system that overburdens them without adequate resources. This strike authorization vote, according to union leadership, signals the nurses' seriousness in demanding a fair contract.

Corewell Health East, however, considers discussions of a strike premature. A spokesperson stated that the hospital system has made significant investments in nurse wages and benefits and remains committed to reaching an agreement through good-faith bargaining. Both parties acknowledge that neither side has presented a final offer.

The nurses initially voted to join the Teamsters in November 2024 and have been seeking a union contract since June 2025. An unfair labor practice charge was filed in August 2025, alleging the hospital refused to allow bargaining committee members to use paid time off for collective bargaining sessions.