Home / Business and Economy / Nurses March as Union Vote Dispute Lingers
Nurses March as Union Vote Dispute Lingers
9 Jun
Summary
- Nurses marched demanding union recognition after a contested vote.
- The NLRB has been reviewing disputed ballots for six months.
- UnityPoint Health cited coercion and intimidation in election objections.
Nurses at UnityPoint Health's Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines participated in a march on June 8, 2026, calling for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to recognize their union. The unionization drive, initiated by the United Nurses of Iowa in November 2024, aims to secure improved compensation, healthcare benefits, staffing ratios, and working conditions. This action follows a December 2024 certification vote supervised by the NLRB.
UnityPoint Health filed a petition with the NLRB shortly after the vote, asserting that the union employed coercion and intimidation tactics. The company also raised concerns about the NLRB's handling of the election process, questioning the vote count required for certification and alleging a failure to maintain election integrity. Out of the counted ballots, 871 supported the union, while 666 opposed it, with 251 ballots remaining disputed and sufficient to determine the outcome.
Union officials expressed frustration over the NLRB's prolonged review, which has now extended for six months as of June 2026. They are eager for a hearing date to address the objections. UnityPoint Health maintains that it is cooperating with the NLRB's established process and awaiting the final results, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring every nurse's voice is heard.
