A union is an organization that brings together different people in the same profession. For example, there are engineer unions and teachers' unions. There are also many unions in the medical and health care professions. Nursing labor unions have become extremely visible in the past decade mostly due to their goals of obtaining better wages and working conditions for their members, and improved nurse-to-patient ratios.

New York Professional Nurses Union

Nurses at the Lenox Hill Hospital are supported by the New York Professional Nurses Union. This grassroots organization began in 1985 when nurses realized none of the large existing unions could represent their interests. The nurses knew only they could represent themselves. The goal of these nurses is to make a contribution to Lenox Hill Hospital while maintaining respect for the profession and the people in the profession.

New York Professional Nurses Union 1104 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10075-0310 212-988-5565 nypnu.org/

Northern Michigan Hospital Registered Nurses, Local 406

The Northern Michigan Hospital Registered Nurses, Local 406, is an unconventional union in that it is based online, meaning there are no union meetings or membership committees. The members have exclusive access to the union's website. Nurses at the Northern Michigan Hospital came together and developed the website, the sole purpose being to keep everyone informed and to make any issues public.

Northern Michigan Hospital Registered Nurses, Local 406 200 East Main St. Harbor Springs, MI 49740 mash406nmhnurses.com

SEIU Healthcare Florida Local 1991

The SEIU Healthcare Florida Local 1991 represents more than 5,000 nurses in the southeast area of Florida. The majority of members work in the Jackson Health System and at Florida International University. Since its inception, the union has successfully worked for better wages and working conditions for its members. Another successful and yet ongoing goal of the union is to improve the nurse-to-patient ratio in the Jackson Health System.

SEIU Healthcare Florida Local 1991 14645 NW 77th Ave, Suite 201 Miami Lakes, FL 33014 305-623-3000 seiufhu.org/

Health Care Employees Union, District 1199

More than 22,000 health care professionals in New England are members of the Health Care Employees Union, District 1199. Striving for better quality of life for the professionals and nurses in New England, their families and patients, this union gives those health care professionals a vehicle to pursue these goals.

Health Care Employees Union, District 1199 77 Huyshope Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 860-549-1199 nehceu.org/