Adrian, MI – Nurses at ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital have announced the results of their strike authorization vote as bargaining for a new contract resumed. The vote was held on January 11th.
The following was issued by the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA)…
98% of the nurses who participated in the vote chose to provide their elected RN bargaining team with the ability to call for a strike should it be necessary. About 140 nurses work at the hospital.
“Across Michigan and across our country, nurses have been rising up to hold healthcare executives accountable. Today, nurses at ProMedica are saying publicly and clearly that we are prepared to do the same,” said Tracy Webb, RN, president of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) local at the hospital and member of the elected bargaining team. “We are worried about what will happen in the future if we do not act now. I know that voting to authorize a strike was not a decision any nurse made lightly, but we have been left with no other choice.”
On the same day as the strike authorization vote, nurses filed unfair labor practice charges against ProMedica executives alleging that they have engaged in bad faith bargaining in violation of the National Labor Relations Act. Nurses are frustrated that the hospital has failed to share critical financial information and maintained unlawful, anti-union policies, among other concerns. RNs say that these unfair labor practices are part of what motivated their strike vote.
“I am fed up and tired of millionaire executives thinking they are above the law. They are not,” said Webb. “Nurses will not allow our rights to be continually violated without taking action.”
After more than four months of negotiations, ProMedica executives are still demanding major concessions to nurses’ retirement that would lead to the creation of a two-tier system. ProMedica’s administration is also refusing to provide wages that mirror what other area hospitals are offering. Nurses fear the impact that these proposals could have on staffing levels at the hospital and therefore on patients’ safety.
“I live in Adrian. I grew up here. I work at this hospital because I love my community,” said Jamie Lewis, RN. “I want what is best for my friends and neighbors. I don’t see how our hospital will be able to thrive if ProMedica executives get the concessions they are demanding. Why would any new nurse choose to come here if they could make more money down the road?”
“Healthcare shouldn’t be treated like a business with those at the top making millions while RNs and our patients suffer,” said Raquel Flores, RN, secretary of the local and member of the bargaining team. “As a nurses’ union, we have the ability to fight for what is right. ProMedica executives are asking us to go backward. I can promise you that nurses at this hospital are united and will do what it takes to make sure that we move forward instead.”
Before any strike begins, 10-day notice would be provided to ProMedica’s administration. Nurses have been working under an expired contract since January 1. Negotiations resume today.
The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest and most effective union for registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO.
ProMedica’s Statement…
“Since September, ProMedica Hickman Hospital leadership has been negotiating with the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) in good faith. Today, hospital leaders were notified by MNA that its member nurses working at the not-for-profit hospital voted in favor of a strike authorization.
While the union has not presented a 10-day strike notice or notice to picket, it could do so in the near future. If a strike were to occur, we would work diligently to ensure our action plans support our commitment to providing safe, high-quality care.
We know there is a lot of misinformation, and potentially even disinformation, circulating on this topic. To be clear, we fully expect the not-for-profit hospital to remain open and continue serving the community. For the best health outcomes, it is important that patients in need seek care immediately.
After 18 full-day negotiation sessions that involved a lot of listening on our part, Hickman Hospital leaders presented a best and final contract offer to MNA on January 9, 2023, which was fair and market competitive.
We continue to meet with the union representative and bargaining team in hopes that they will further review the information provided and reconsider the union’s position.”
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