Niles Nurses Vote Against Joining Teamsters Union

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Nurses at the Corewell Health hospital in Niles, Michigan have voted against joining the Teamsters union in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. The vote was 82 against unionization and 47 in favor, with 152 eligible employees. This outcome differs from a 2024 vote at several other Corewell hospitals in Southeast Michigan where over 9,600 nurses voted to unionize with the Teamsters.

Why it matters

The Niles vote is significant as it keeps the Corewell Health hospitals in Southwest Michigan non-union, in contrast to the larger unionization effort at the company's facilities in the Detroit metro area. The results highlight the ongoing debate around healthcare worker unionization and the varying outcomes across different regions and facilities.

The details

The proposed bargaining unit in Niles included full-time and part-time registered nurses, nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse assistants. Corewell Health said it supports the outcome and values a direct working relationship with its nursing staff. The organizing effort began in early January when Teamsters Local 406 filed a petition seeking to represent the Niles hospital's nursing staff.

• The election was held on February 26, 2026.
• In November 2024, over 9,600 nurses at nine Corewell hospitals in Southeast Michigan voted to unionize with the Teamsters.