Union caregivers at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital vote to authorize strike as contract negotiations reach impasse

Source: WKYC

Union caregivers at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital may strike in the coming weeks if a new contract isn't reached, citing unfair labor practices.

Author: Tyler Carey
Published: 8:46 PM EDT July 16, 2026
Updated: 1:31 PM EDT July 17, 2026

CLEVELAND — Amid another round of tense labor talks, union caregivers at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital have "overwhelmingly" voted to authorize a strike if a new collective bargaining agreement cannot be reached with the healthcare system.

Service Employees International Union District 1199 confirmed the news Thursday evening, claiming the vote came after "months of negotiations" as well as "more than three dozen unfair labor practice charges filed against Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital." The latest developments mirror those of the summer of 2023, when Lutheran Hospital workers also voted to strike before striking a deal for a new three-year contract at the last minute.

That three-year contract is now set to expire, with employees vowing to fight "for equity and equality in wages and benefits, safe staffing, workplace safety, and the respect on the job while continuing to provide quality patient care every day."

SEIU District 1199 Regional Director Vanessa Dalesandro released the following statement:

"This vote sends a clear message: members are united, organized, and prepared to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract. This isn't just about wages. It's about whether Cleveland Clinic will invest in the caregivers who make patient care possible or continue treating them like an expense to be cut. You can't claim 'world-class care' while expecting caregivers to accept unsafe staffing, higher healthcare costs, fewer protections, and less respect. When caregivers are forced to accept less, patients pay the price. If this ends in a strike, the Cleveland Clinic made a choice, and it wasn't caregivers or patients. The ball is now in their court, and time is running short."

Read more: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/union-caregivers-cleveland-clinic-lutheran-hospital-vote-authorize-strike-contract-negotiations/95-33f67405-9a38-4f71-b2e1-30640ef0de0b