The RNs are protesting “management’s refusal” to address their concerns about safe staffing and nurse retention. EMMC said it provided the union “a very strong offer.”
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Registered nurses at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor last week delivered a 10-day notice to their employer announcing a one-day strike on March 23.
It was the first strike notice issued by EMMC nurses since 2015. The RNs are protesting what they said is “management’s refusal” to address their concerns about safe staffing and nurse retention, according to a news release.
But in a separate news release, EMMC said it provided the union “a very strong offer that recognizes and supports our nurses with direct investments in very competitive wages, benefits and training and continues to support high-quality care for our patients.”
Staffing ratios
Eastern Maine Medical Center nurses, who are represented by the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, have been bargaining for a new contract since July 2025. Their contract expired last September. The 10-day strike notice lets the hospital make alternative plans for patient care.
Nurses said unresolved bargaining issues include ensuring safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios; protecting nurses’ health insurance benefits from what they said are potentially exorbitant increases; ensuring all nurses receive the same benefits even though, they said, new nurses are slated to receive fewer benefits; and providing that women’s health care nurses’ pay scale is on par with all other union nurses. The women's health nurses joined the union in 2024.
Continuing care
Eastern Maine Medical Center said it’s prepared to continue providing care and services for patients.
“We will have highly qualified replacement nurses working alongside EMMC staff to provide the high level of care our patients expect,” said Ava Collins, president of the hospital.
The medical center is required to make a multi-day commitment to secure the temporary replacement nurses, which means they will be working at the hospital for three days beginning March 23. Having replacement nurses for more than one day helps minimize disruption for patients, according to the center.
“We will continue to have discussions with the union with a focus on coming to a fair and reasonable contract,” said Collins.
Contract demands
On Jan. 16, EMMC nurses held a rally outside the hospital to highlight their contract demands. Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee represents 900 nurses at Northern Light EMMC.
EMMC nurses held a rally outside the hospital in January to highlight their contract demands.
“We all need to be safe inside the hospital, and that means safe staffing and no dangerous weapons inside the hospital,” said Nichole Oliver, an RN and union bargaining team member. “Without guarantees on these issues, we cannot protect our patients or give them the best care.”
Maine State Nurses Association represents 4,000 nurses and other caregivers from Portland to Fort Kent. It is part of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the U.S., with more than 225,000 members nationwide.
