UnityPoint Health nurses march as wait for union vote result drags on

Source: Des Moines Register

Veronica Meiss June 8, 2026, 5:08 p.m. CT

Nurses from UnityPoint Health’s Iowa Methodist Medical Center marched in Des Moines to demand recognition of their union by the National Labor Relations Board, which for six months has been considering a dispute over a December certification vote.

The Monday, June 8, march went from the Iowa Capitol to the hospital, which is part of a network that includes Blank Children’s Hospital, Iowa Lutheran Hospital and Methodist West Hospital and employs 1,800 nurses.

The United Nurses of Iowa began its unionization drive in November 2024, advocating for fair compensation, improved health care benefits, safe staffing ratios and better working conditions "that prioritize the health and safety of both patients and registered nurses," according to the Teamsters Local 90 website.

Shortly after the election took place, UnityPoint Health filed a petition with the NLRB, which supervised the election and vote counting, claiming the union used coercion and intimidation to prevent anti-union votes. The petition also said the NLRB lacks the number of votes needed to certify election results and that it failed "to maintain the secrecy, integrity, sanctity, and gravitas of the election and voting process."




Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2026/06/08/unitypoint-health-des-moines-nurses-march-union-vote-count/90460022007/