Nurses in New York and Argentina Unite in Struggle

Nurses at the University of Michigan and El Garrahan Hospital in Argentina share lessons from their fights for better working conditions and patient care

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Nurses at the University of Michigan and El Garrahan Hospital in Argentina are engaged in major contract battles to improve staffing levels, workplace safety, and patient care. The nurses discuss the challenges of organizing in the healthcare sector, building rank-and-file power, and forging solidarity across borders.

Why it matters

The struggles of nurses in the U.S. and Argentina highlight the global crisis in healthcare, with workers fighting against austerity, understaffing, and attacks on unions. Their efforts to build democratic, militant unions and connect with community allies offer lessons for the broader labor movement.

The details

Nurses at the University of Michigan are facing contract negotiations as their current agreement expires on March 31, 2026. Key issues include defending enforceable nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, eliminating mandatory overtime, and improving workplace safety protections. The hospital has hired a major union-busting law firm to fight the nurses' demands. In Argentina, nurses and other healthcare workers at the El Garrahan Hospital in Buenos Aires led a two-month strike in 2023 against austerity measures imposed by the far-right Milei government. The strike united diverse hospital workers and garnered broad community support, leading to a 60% wage increase. However, the government has since moved to punish strike leaders.

  • The University of Michigan nurses' contract expires on March 31, 2026.
  • The strike at El Garrahan Hospital took place in late 2023.
  • The Milei government took power in Argentina in late 2023.

The players

Maggie Zampieri

A pediatric nurse and union leader at the University of Michigan, Maggie has been instrumental in building a more democratic and militant union by empowering the rank-and-file membership.

Norma Lezana

A nutritionist and the General Secretary of the Association of Professional Workers and Technicians (APyT), the union representing workers at the El Garrahan Hospital in Buenos Aires. Norma led the successful two-month strike against austerity measures in 2023.

University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council

The union representing 7,100 nurses at the University of Michigan hospital system.

El Garrahan Hospital

A public pediatric hospital in Buenos Aires that is the premier facility for complex pediatric care in South America.

Javier Milei

The far-right president of Argentina who has imposed austerity measures and sought to weaken unions since taking office in late 2023.

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What they’re saying

“The stronger our membership gets, the less utility there is for low level management. It's something we will have to build and fight for. But given the greater social space we are in, that's what immediately comes to mind.”

— Maggie Zampieri, Nurse and union leader (United Left Platform)

“It's the workers of the hospital that know best how to run it. Of course, there are different ideas but we have the experience of working together. That's where the health team comes together to figure out how best to care for the patient and involve the family in a discussion.”

— Norma Lezana, Nutritionist and union leader (United Left Platform)

What’s next

The University of Michigan nurses are continuing to organize their membership and build community alliances as they approach their contract expiration on March 31, 2026. In Argentina, the Milei government has moved to punish strike leaders at the El Garrahan Hospital, raising concerns about further retaliation against the union.

The takeaway

The struggles of nurses in the U.S. and Argentina demonstrate the power of workers to organize and fight for better conditions, even in the face of hostile governments and management. Their efforts to build democratic, rank-and-file led unions and forge international solidarity offer a model for the broader labor movement to confront the global crisis in healthcare.