Brown Calls on Cleveland Clinic to Negotiate in Good Faith with Workers at Lutheran Hospital

Cleveland, OH – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) has written to the Cleveland Clinic regarding ongoing contract negotiations with Lutheran Hospital employees represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199. 

In her letter to Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Cleveland Clinic, Brown noted that the National Labor Relations Act protects employees' right to organize and engage in collective bargaining, and called for “a fair, timely, and equitable agreement that respects the contributions of your workers and protects patients' continued access to high-quality care.”

The text of the letter is copied below: 

August 20, 2026

Dr. Tom Mihaljevic
Chief Executive Officer and President
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44195

Dear Dr. Mihaljevic:

I write regarding the ongoing contract negotiations between Cleveland Clinic and employees at Lutheran Hospital represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199. I encourage Cleveland Clinic leadership to return to the bargaining table and work toward a fair, timely, and equitable agreement that respects the contributions of your workers and protects patients' continued access to high-quality care.

Lutheran Hospital is a critical part of the health care infrastructure for Cleveland and the surrounding communities. Its nurses, technicians, service workers, and support staff are indispensable to delivering the high standard of care that patients and families rely upon every day. A timely agreement with those workers is in the best interests of Lutheran Hospital's employees, its patients, the institution, and the broader Cleveland community. 

My office has heard from constituents regarding the status of these negotiations. They have shared concerns about the pace of bargaining, workplace conditions, staffing, healthcare costs, and reports of conduct during the bargaining process that they believe has undermined productive negotiations. These concerns underscore the importance of maintaining a bargaining process that is transparent, respectful, and consistent with the obligations established under federal labor law.

The National Labor Relations Act protects employees' right to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and participate in other protected concerted activities free from interference, restraint, coercion, or retaliation. I therefore encourage Cleveland Clinic to bargain in good faith, respect employees' protected rights throughout this process, and to refrain from actions that could undermine constructive negotiations or the confidence of its workforce.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 

Sincerely,

Shontel M. Brown
Member of Congress