NNU Strike: Via Christi Contingency Plan Update

National Nurses United (NNU) has issued Via Christi St. Francis and Via Christi St. Joseph a notice of intent to strike, indicating the registered nurses it represents will conduct a one-day strike from 7:00 a.m. on July 6, 2026, until 7:00 a.m. on July 7, 2026, at both hospitals. We are disappointed in the union's decision to conduct these strikes, recognizing the anxiety it can cause our patients and the hardship it brings to our associates and their families.

Providing safe, quality care remains our top priority. We are well prepared to remain open and fully operational during this short-term strike. Comprehensive contingency plans are in place to ensure there is no disruption in care or service for our patients and communities.

We have secured a full complement of highly skilled, credentialed replacement registered nurses through a staffing agency specializing in work stoppage events to maintain continuity of care for our patients.

Regardless of the planned duration of the strike, we are contractually required to commit to a minimum of four days of work for any registered nursing staff replaced, starting from the first day of a strike. Via Christi St. Francis and Via Christi St. Joseph registered nurses who choose to work on July 6 will not be replaced. Any registered nurse who is not working on July 6, 2026, will be temporarily replaced and will be able to return to their scheduled shifts beginning the morning of July 10, 2026, as soon as our replacement agency contractual obligation is fulfilled. Any registered nurses who work the day of the strike will also work their regularly scheduled shifts during the contractual replacement period.

We would prefer not to have to utilize these extended contracted services, but we must make every provision for ensuring the health and safety of our patients, families, providers and associates.

As part of our unwavering commitment to safety, Via Christi continually evaluates our security policies and invests in proactive safety enhancements. This August, we are introducing new 24-hour weapons detection systems in our Via Christi St. Francis and Via Christi St. Joseph Emergency Departments and expanding our dedicated security workforce. These additions build on existing safety measures, including specialized de-escalation training for our teams, expanded video surveillance, upgraded lighting and an enhanced visitor management system.

Via Christi remains deeply committed to bargaining in good faith to reach mutually beneficial agreements that provide our nurses with the market-competitive compensation and benefits they deserve, that ensure the long-term viability of Via Christi, and that allow us to continue delivering on our shared mission of delivering safe, compassionate care to all.