Chicago nurses win historic union vote to join National Nurses Organizing Committee

Rush University Medical Center nurses in Chicago have voted to join National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, according to the union, in a win that sets up first-contract bargaining for about 2,000 nurses.

National Nurses United said the vote was 77% in favor. The union described the result as a historic organizing win and said the nurses will now enter first-contract negotiations.

Rush publicly acknowledged the election and said it would work through validation and next steps after the vote.

The election capped a spring organizing drive that began with a petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board in April. Rush also issued guidance to nurses ahead of the election and argued against unionization.

The result gives nurses a formal path toward bargaining over working conditions, pay and other workplace issues, while also setting up the first major test of how quickly the parties can move from an election win to contract talks.

The vote comes as hospital labor organizing continues to expand across the country, with nurses often framing union campaigns around staffing, patient care and workplace voice.