In Nagpur, India, nurses at Urban Public Health Centres (UPHCs) had never been unionised—until the pandemic changed everything. Facing extreme stress, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and delayed wages, these women healthcare workers became part of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation Employees' Union (NMCEU) and launched fight for their rights. Learning from veteran union leaders and capacity-building assistance from PSI, they organised successfully, winning their demands for PPE and timely payment.

As they witnessed the power of collective action, they continued organising and strengthening the union even after the pandemic. They resisted a poorly implemented vaccination tracking app that increased their workload without proper training or resources. Despite threats of dismissal, the nurses stood together and forced management to back down. Now expanding to include other health workers across all UPHCs in Nagpur, the union continues fighting for regularisation, better pay, increased leave, and improved working conditions—proving that solidarity among healthcare workers builds real power at the workplace.