Nurses at Endeavor Health’s north suburban hospitals have taken formal steps to unionize, filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold a union election that could represent over 2,400 nurses across facilities in Evanston, Highland Park, Skokie, and Glenview. The proposed union would be affiliated with Teamsters Local 743.

The filing comes amid ongoing concerns among Endeavor nurses regarding staffing levels, pay reductions, workplace safety, and a desire for greater input on working conditions and patient care. Nurses have cited pay cuts experienced last year; one nurse, John Ter Louw of Endeavor Health Glenbrook Hospital, said his hourly wage decreased by $8. Endeavor, however, has stated it increased pay opportunities for its nursing staff twice in 2026.

At a news conference held in front of Endeavor’s corporate center in Evanston, nurses and supporters—including politicians and union advocates—gathered to mark the latest unionization effort. Many nurses voiced frustration over what they described as a shift toward prioritizing profits over patient care since Endeavor took over operations. Nurse Lori Ford, with four decades at the system, also raised concerns about a newly introduced $2,400 surcharge for employees opting to cover spouses on their health insurance plans when those spouses have coverage through their own employers. Endeavor clarified that the surcharge only applies under these specific circumstances.

Nurses like ICU nurse Stacey Oswald highlighted ongoing staffing challenges, noting instances where typical nurse-to-patient ratios have been exceeded, potentially impacting patient safety and care quality. Oswald also expressed uncertainty about how the recently announced potential merger between Endeavor and Rush University System for Health—expected to be finalized by early 2027 if approved—will affect nursing staff. The combined system would be one of the largest in the state, encompassing 12 hospitals, over 46,000 employees, and more than 400 care sites. While system leaders say the merger will enhance statewide access to quality care, nurses say they want to be included in discussions about its implications.

Endeavor Health responded to the union petition by affirming its respect for nurses’ federally protected rights to choose union representation. At the same time, the company emphasized that it believes direct communication between nurses and leadership best supports safe and seamless patient care, expressing concerns about the potential challenges a union intermediary might pose.

Union organizers and nurses have also alleged that Endeavor has engaged in union-busting activities, pointing to an earlier NLRB charge accusing the company of terminating two nurses at Evanston Hospital for their union involvement. Endeavor did not comment directly on those allegations.

This latest petition is the second from Endeavor nurses in recent weeks. Earlier in the month, nurses at Endeavor Health Edward Hospital in Naperville filed a separate petition seeking union representation through the National Nurses Organizing Committee, affiliated with National Nurses United. If successful, that would add more than 1,000 unionized nurses to the system. Meanwhile, approximately 2,000 nurses at Rush University Medical Center have already unionized under the same committee earlier this year.