MedStar Franklin Square Nurses Filed Union Petition
Nurses rallied at the Baltimore medical center to protest current staffing levels and hospital equipment shortages.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Registered nurses at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize. The staff held a rally on Sept. 19, 2026, to demand improvements to staffing levels and hospital supplies.
Why it matters
Nurses are seeking a union contract to address what they describe as critical shortages in staffing and essential equipment. The effort comes amid public scrutiny of wait times and hospital operational capacity.
MedStar Health reported over $1 billion in revenue for both 2024 and 2025. In 2025, ER visits at MedStar Franklin Square averaged 367 minutes, while MedStar Washington Hospital Center averaged 377 minutes.
The players
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
This is a hospital located in Baltimore that serves as the primary site for the current nursing unionization effort.
National Labor Relations Board
This federal agency is responsible for overseeing labor relations and the certification of union elections in the United States.
MedStar Health
This is a large, non-profit healthcare organization operating multiple medical facilities throughout the Maryland and Washington, D.C. region.
The details
Nurses at the Baltimore facility claim that management has engaged in union-busting tactics during their organizing drive. The petition, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, aims to leverage collective bargaining to secure better working conditions.
Timeline
MedStar Health reported $1 billion in revenue during 2024.
Average ER wait times were recorded in 2025.
Nurses filed a union election petition on Sept. 10, 2026.
A rally was held at the medical center on Sept. 19, 2026.
Market Landscape
The petition follows the National Labor Relations Board union certification process, reflecting a broader trend of healthcare workers seeking collective bargaining rights. This move positions the nursing staff against MedStar Health's existing administrative and management structures.
Patients may see potential shifts in hospital operations or service delivery as negotiations move forward. The outcome of this unionization drive could influence future staffing availability and internal hospital policies for the local community.
The takeaway
Healthcare workers continue to utilize federal labor protections to advocate for safer operational standards. Patients and community members should monitor potential impacts on clinical availability and emergency services.
What happens next
A formal election date for the unionization vote is pending scheduling by the National Labor Relations Board.
Further reading
For more information on the industry, visit the Baltimore Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBFF.
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