Striking hospital workers cite workplace violence as key demand alongside wages and staffing
Unionized healthcare workers at hospitals including Henry Ford Genesys in Michigan and Butler Hospital in Rhode Island have been on strike, citing workplace violence, staffing levels, and wages as core concerns. Nationwide, hospital workers are seven times as likely to be injured due to violent acts as members of the general working population, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The Joint Commission, which accredits more than 80% of U.S. hospitals, released national performance goals in January requiring hospitals to be properly staffed and for staff to be trained to provide safe, quality care.
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Hundreds of unionized employees at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, Michigan, have been on strike since Labor Day 2025, according to NPR. Workers there and at other hospitals across Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have identified workplace violence as a central issue alongside wages and staffing ratios.
Emergency room nurse Crystal Dhooghe, who works at Henry Ford Genesys, described witnessing colleagues being shoved, pushed, scratched, and bitten. Mental health worker Andrew Kimball-Mirzaie said he sustained a concussion and broken nose after being punched by a patient at Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, in February 2024 — an incident he attributed in part to insufficient staffing and training. He was among approximately 700 unionized Butler workers who participated in a months-long strike that NPR reported began in spring 2025.
Henry Ford spokesperson Dana Jay acknowledged that violence against healthcare workers is a "national epidemic," and said the health system has implemented metal detectors, armed security officers trained to make misdemeanor arrests, and de-escalation training. Jay stated in a written statement that the ongoing strike is "simply an economic strike," not a safety dispute. Butler's president and COO, Mary Marran, said in a statement that hospital leadership meets regularly with staff to review safety measures and "identify opportunities to strengthen protection for everyone."