Loretto Hospital Workers Stage Massive Strike in Chicago
Over 200 workers at Loretto Hospital in Chicago went on strike, including mental health workers, radiology technicians, and housekeepers, citing low pay and understaffing. The turnover rate at the hospital is nearly 60%. Union organizers announced that the hospital management rejected their latest counteroffer, which included an increase in the minimum starting wage, wage increases for current staff, and recognition of the Juneteenth holiday. The strike aims to address not only compensation but also the need for familiar faces for patients experiencing traumatic incidents. The hospital has spent $1.5 million on temporary workers during the strike.