Unionized employees at HCA Healthcare are staging protests at hospitals across the United States. Workers are demanding higher wages and improved staffing levels as they negotiate a new contract with the largest for-profit hospital system in the country. The demonstrations involve approximately 22,000 workers represented by the Service Employees International Union.
Staff members report that stagnant wages make it difficult to cover basic costs like utilities and groceries. Esther Reyes, a technician in Texas, noted that she struggles to manage monthly expenses despite being employed full-time. These concerns come as HCA continues to generate significant financial returns. The company reported $6.8 billion in profits for 2025 and recently authorized a $10 billion stock buyback program.
Healthcare staff argue that current staffing levels affect patient safety. Nurses have shared accounts of being unable to provide full attention to patients because they are managing too many cases at once. The union is pushing for guaranteed nurse-to-patient ratios in their next contract to address these risks. Employees emphasize that the company’s success relies on their labor and they expect fair compensation in return.
An HCA spokesperson stated the company values its employees and remains committed to good-faith negotiations at individual hospitals. Management maintains that the current disputes focus on compensation rather than patient safety. Picket protests have taken place in states including Nevada, California, and Florida as negotiations continue throughout the month.