Concerns rise over possible nurse unionization efforts at St. Joseph in Bryan and College Station

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - Conversations are surfacing over whether nurses at St. Joseph Health in Bryan and College Station could be the next group to join a growing movement of unionized hospital staff across Texas.

The organization at the center of the campaign is National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the country, with more than 225,000 members. Based in Oakland, California, NNU has already helped organize nurses in cities including Austin, El Paso, and Corpus Christi.

An NNU spokesperson says in most cases, it is nurses who first reach out to express interest in organizing, and the organization only launches a campaign when there is “significant interest” among staff.

“We support the right of all nurses in the country to organize a union to ensure the highest standards of patient care free of threats and intimidation from hospital administration,” said Sandy Reding, RN and co-president of NNOC, NNU’s largest affiliate. “Nurses from across the country reach out to us to help organize their hospitals and improve conditions for their patients because they see the truth: When we organize, we win.”

The group declined to confirm whether formal talks are underway at St. Joseph. Still, its website promotes the benefits of union membership, including legal protections for advocacy, improved wages and benefits, and safer working conditions.

Opposition Voices Concerns

Several staff members at St. Joseph, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told KBTX’s Rusty Surette they oppose the idea of unionizing. Their top concern is the financial stability of the hospital.

They fear higher wage demands could trigger staffing cuts, reductions in services, or even impact emergency care availability in the Brazos Valley.

St. Joseph EMS currently provides emergency medical services with its ambulances, EMTs, and paramedics in the communities of Bryan, College Station, Navasota, Caldwell, and Madisonville.

For more than 20 years, St. Joseph’s Air Med 12 helicopters have been one of the first go-to medical aircraft in the region for critically ill patients who need life-saving transportation and care at any time of the day. One is based in College Station, the other in Centerville.

There is great concern that some of those services could be reduced if efforts to unionize nurses are successful.

The same group of concerned workers also alleges the union has financial and political motivations, pointing to NNU’s past endorsements of national political figures and contributions to left-leaning political action committees.

Other objections include how seniority policy in the union might outweigh merit in decisions about promotions, vacation scheduling, and layoffs. Critics argue that the union cannot guarantee raises or benefits during organizing campaigns, describing such promises as “pre-election propaganda.”

KBTX asked National Nurses United about these claims, but NNU declined to respond.

The Process and Potential Impact

Based on information received from sources, if St. Joseph nurses were to vote in favor of unionizing, hospital leaders would be required to negotiate a contract with the union. If no agreement is reached, a strike could become an option.

We do know that nurses on strike often form what is called a patient care task force that can monitor the situation inside the hospital and make decisions about providing patient care during a strike.

While Texas is a right-to-work state, meaning nurses cannot be required to join a union, the union would still represent all nurses. Non-members participating in a strike could face consequences from their employer.

Hospital Response

St. Joseph released a statement on Wednesday to KBTX on the matter:

“At St. Joseph Health, a member of CommonSpirit Health, we have recently been made aware of an out-of-state labor union, specifically the California Nurses Association, approaching our team members and facilities. From time to time, paid organizers attempt to interest employees in joining out-of-state labor unions. We respect our team members’ legal right to choose or not choose a union. At the same time, we prefer a direct, non-union relationship with our team, which enables opportunities for flexible work arrangements, fosters direct communication with leaders, and promotes a strong culture of excellence, compassion, and respect.”

What’s Next

According to NNU, nurses have a legal right to organize under the National Labor Relations Act and, in many cases, state laws for public hospitals. Those rights include discussing union matters at work during personal time, distributing materials in non-work areas, and participating in meetings without fear of retaliation.

For now, it remains unclear whether a vote to unionize at St. Joseph Health is imminent.

Some hospital staff worry a vote could be scheduled with little notice; however, National Nurses United clarified any election would require nurses to first file with the National Labor Relations Board, which then sets the date, often weeks or months in advance.

Those filings are public records that can be tracked on the NLRB website.

In Austin last year, registered nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first-ever union contract, a three-year deal they claim improved patient care standards, retention efforts, and working conditions.

Nurses in El Paso and Corpus Christi reported similar gains after reaching agreements with their employers.