Citing safety concerns, nurses at two Ascension Via Christi hospitals in Wichita are on strike for 24 hours, starting Monday morning.
Nurses have cited incidents at St. Francis and St. Joseph’s hospitals, saying they’re going on strike to not only advocate for their own safety, but the safety of the patients they serve.
The nurses are looking to get a new contract as part of the strike - one that includes increased safety measures.
National Nurses United, the union representing the nurses, said its members want to see weapons-detection systems at all hospital entrances.
The strike follows a nearly unanimous strike authorization vote on June 23 at both hospitals; St. Francis and St. Joseph nurses have been in contract negotiations with Ascension since March.
National Nurses United said the nurses are protesting because they fell their concerns over patient safety and workplace violence have been ignored in contract negotiations.
