Teamsters nurses and their supporters marched from the Iowa capitol to Unity Point Health Iowa Methodist Medical Center to demand that their union election be certified.

Over 2,000 UnityPoint nurses have faced endless delays in their campaign to be recognized as Teamsters. 

First, their NLRB election was delayed by the government shutdown. After a majority of nurses voted to join Teamsters Local 90, Unity Point filed a lawsuit. 

Monday’s march called on management to recognize the union so nurses can begin negotiating their first contract. 

Iowa healthcare workers make less than their counterparts in surrounding states which contributes to turnover and understaffing. 

Nurses fight to provide care amid skyrocketing cancer rates and rural clinic closures.

They describe a feeling of “moral injury” as they are forced to choose which patients to bring in from crowded waiting rooms. 

“We brought up issues to our management and weren’t seeing the changes we thought the patients deserved,” said nurse Amy Hennings. “We have issues with staffing, safety and compensation and knew we needed to organize to improve things.”

The nurses were joined by UnityPoint patients, family members and Teamsters from their local and the surrounding area. 

“When these nurses reached out to us we made a commitment to support them no matter how long this takes. They will never give up and we will never stop supporting them,” said Local 90 Principal Officer Alano De La Rosa.