Registered Nurses at St. Joseph Regional Hospitals Vote to Unionize Registered nurses (RNs) across five St. Joseph Health system hospitals in Texas—Bryan, College Station, Navasota, Madisonville, and Caldwell—have voted to unionize under the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU). The December 9–10, 2025 election, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), resulted in a 326–272 decision in favor of unionization, with 40 challenged ballots and one voided vote. A total of 781 nurses were eligible to participate. The vote applies to full-time, part-time, and per diem RNs in various roles, including clinical educators, flight nurses, and specialty care coordinators. This marks the 33rd hospital under CommonSpirit Health, St. Joseph’s parent company, to join NNOC/NNU, which already represents over 17,000 nurses across the system. Nurses cited patient safety, staffing concerns, and retention challenges as key reasons for unionizing. Tara Cassell, an RN in labor and delivery, stated that the decision was driven by a need to advocate for better patient care and ensure nurses’ voices are heard in decision-making. Katie Oberhelman, a medical unit RN, emphasized the importance of safe staffing levels and protections against workplace violence. CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest Catholic healthcare systems in the U.S., reported $1.1 billion in profits last year, with its former and current CEOs earning a combined $36.6 million in 2024. Nurses argue that the system has the resources to address their concerns but has prioritized profits over patient care. The hospital issued a statement acknowledging the preliminary results, expressing gratitude to its nurses, and reaffirming its commitment to patient-centered care. The NLRB will now certify the vote, after which nurses will elect a bargaining team to negotiate their first contract. NNOC/NNU also represents nurses at three other Texas hospitals, including Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, which ratified its first union contract last year.

The California Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving St. Joseph Health on March 3, 2014. The breach occurred on February 18, 2014, when an employee accidentally sent a Microsoft Excel file containing identifiable patient information to Cain Brothers, affecting an unspecified number of individuals. The disclosed information included names, patient codes, and other patient-related details, but did not involve social security numbers or financial data.

The California Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving St. Joseph Health System on February 5, 2014. The breach occurred between December 16 and December 18, 2013, allowing unauthorized access to a server, potentially affecting patient and employee records, although the exact number of individuals affected is unknown. This breach could have significant implications for the privacy and security of personal information, including the potential leak of sensitive health data. The incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information in healthcare settings.