Nurses and health professionals

National campaign on healthcare staffing

The AFT launched a major national campaign to shine a spotlight on and address the country’s dire healthcare staffing crisis.

Nurses and Healthcare

Vital Signs

A crisis point

A new report examines how staffing shortages in the healthcare industry are affecting the way many health professionals work.

Learn more

Workplace violence

Learn more about workplace violence, how to take action, and what you can do to prevent it.

Learn more

Members in Action

Hawaii nurses unite to push for safe staffing legislation

A coalition of unions representing more than 5,000 nurses in Hawaii is calling for safer staffing to improve patient care and strengthen the state’s healthcare system.

Read about it

In June, HPAE members at Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, N.J. overwhelmingly ratified a historic contract that established patient-to-staff ratios for the first time.

Bargaining safe staffing: A victory for nurses, a lifeline for patients

Last spring, three healthcare locals of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees put their employers on notice as they prepared to negotiate their expiring contracts: Give us nurse-to-patient ratios or we will strike.

Get the story

collection of quotes from Union of Physicians

AFT’s new physicians’ organizing initiative aims to transform healthcare

On June 18, 2024, the AFT announced the launch of the Union Physicians of AFT, a dynamic new group aimed at uniting doctors.

Getty Images hospital patient sitting on bed facing window

Ohio nurses demand staffing and safety reforms

A recent survey conducted by the Ohio Nurses Association found that the state's healthcare system is in crisis.

Interested in

organizing?

If you want to learn more about organizing a union at your workplace, particularly to address staffing shortage issues, please reach out to us.

Write to

formaftunion@aft.org (link sends e-mail)

Tell Congress: Hands off Medicaid!

Corporations and the rich want Congress to cut healthcare funding to pay for tax cuts. Medicaid supports people from birth to retirement and beyond; it is essential to keeping hospitals open and supporting students at school. Cutting Medicaid will hurt individual patients and entire communities.

Write your Representative and Senators and tell them to protect Medicaid funding.

Learn more about Medicaid and how it impacts AFT members.

Health & Safety for All

Where we work, learn and go to heal can have an enormous impact on our health and well-being. Learn more about health and safety in the workplace, and download our informational material.

DOBBS DECISION FAQs

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overrule Roe v. Wade has created a tremendous amount of uncertainty.

While your union has your back and will defend our members from the cruel and chilling implications of Dobbs, it is important that every provider know what their legal rights and potential exposure are, it is important that every provider know what their legal rights and potential exposure are, understanding that implications will vary state by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Note: this document will be updated as more information becomes available.