University of Illinois Health (UI Health) and the Illinois Nurses Association (INA) have reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract, bringing an end to a four-day strike by nurses demanding better wages and working conditions.
The strike, which began on Wednesday on Chicago’s Near West Side, marked the second time this year that INA nurses walked off the job. Nurses returned to work Sunday morning following the announcement of the agreement, which still requires a ratification vote by the union’s membership.
The proposed contract, set to run from 2024 to 2028, includes wage increases, improvements to hospital safety protocols, and a stronger role for bedside nurses in staffing decisions, according to the union.
In a statement, UI Health leadership expressed appreciation for their nursing staff, saying, “We value the critical role nurses play in providing patients with exceptional care, outcomes, and experiences.”
Union leaders had criticized a previously proposed 2% wage increase as insufficient, sparking months of negotiations. Prior to this strike, a similar walkout in August was limited by a temporary restraining order that kept critical care nurses on duty to ensure hospital operations.
With more than 1,700 nurses participating in the latest strike, the tentative agreement reflects progress in addressing the union’s key concerns. Details of the agreement will be shared after the union’s ratification process is complete.