How are healthcare workers using strikes to improve patient care and working conditions? In this episode, Dr. Lee Sharma, hosts Professor Johnnie Kallas to share insights from his work tracking union and non-union strikes across the U.S., with a focus on the growing trend of fixed-duration strikes in healthcare. These short-term walkouts, often lasting one to five days, allow nurses and physicians to protest unsafe staffing ratios and working conditions while minimizing patient care disruptions. Drawing from his experience with the Service Employees International Union and California Nurses Association, Kallas discusses the economic and reputational leverage of these strikes, the unique regulatory environment under the National Labor Relations Act, and how post-COVID challenges have fueled labor activism. This episode is a must-listen for healthcare professionals navigating the evolving landscape of unionization and collective action.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Explore Fixed-Duration Strikes – Consider short-term strikes (1-5 days) as a strategic tool to advocate for better staffing, pay, and patient safety, ensuring compliance with the National Labor Relations Act’s 10-day notice requirement to maintain legal protections.
2. Leverage Public Support – Highlight patient care advocacy in strike messaging to counter hospital narratives of “greed” or “patient abandonment,” capitalizing on the public’s trust in nurses and physicians as frontline heroes.
3. Learn from Labor Action Tracker Data – Use the publicly accessible Labor Action Tracker to analyze strike trends, demands, and outcomes in healthcare to inform organizing strategies and negotiations in your workplace.

About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:

Professor Johnnie Kallas is a labor relations scholar and director of the Labor Action Tracker at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. With a PhD from Cornell University, he has extensive experience as a labor organizer with the Service Employees International Union and California Nurses Association. His research focuses on healthcare strikes, union strategies, and the impact of collective action on patient care and working conditions.

Email: jkallas@illinois.edu

Website: https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/faculty-and-research/labor-action-tracker

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

• Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
  📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
  🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.