McLaren Lapeer Strike FAQs
Q. What is a strike?
A. A strike happens when a group of workers – in our case, McLaren Lapeer nurses - come together and decide to withhold our labor to advocate for what is right.
Our goal is to get a strong contract at the bargaining table. But we must be willing and ready to act collectively, if needed, to get the contract we deserve.
Q. When would the strike be?
A. Since nurses voted to authorize our bargaining team to call for a strike, they have the power and ability to set a date for a strike in the future. Our team would provide 10-day notice of a strike so the hospital can prepare.
Q. How long would the strike last?
A. The duration of the strike would be determined by the bargaining team when it’s announced.
Q. Is strike pay available?
A. Yes. The MNA Board of Directors recently approved a strike pay benefit. If a strike is called, we will notify all MNA members in good standing of how to qualify for that.
Q. What is a lockout? Do we think McLaren might lock us out?
A. A lockout would take place if McLaren executives chose to prevent us from returning to work after the strike. It is an aggressively anti-union tactic designed to try to break workers’ solidarity. We will continue to hold our picket lines should McLaren take this extreme step.
Q. Can the hospital hire permanent replacements?
A. This is not likely and is ill-advised on the part of the hospital. In most strike situations, the use of temporary employees can satisfy the employer’s needs to remain open. It would be very difficult to find skilled professionals willing to accept a job without assurance of continued employment when the strike is over, and it could potentially be illegal for management to seek to do so.
Q. Can the hospital or my manager ask me whether I would strike?
A. You should expect that the hospital or your manager will ask you about whether you would individually participate in a potential strike. You are legally protected from having to answer. You may exercise your right to decline by politely refusing to respond. Hospitals often instruct managers to develop and use personal relationships with staff, in order to coerce or intimidate members. You are not required to respond to these questions, and if you do, we urge you to simply reply that you do not know or are unsure. It is illegal for management to ask you these questions in a coercive or intimidating way. If that happens, you should contact your MNA representatives immediately.
Q. How would patient care be impacted by a strike? What about my license?
A. We work diligently to protect our patients before and during any strike. This includes giving a 10-day notice of a strike to the hospital. Our strike would be to highlight issues affecting nurses and patients as a result of McLaren’s decisions. Your nursing license will not be negatively impacted by your decision to choose to act in solidarity and go on strike.
Q. How can I financially prepare for a strike?
A. The first option of course is to build up your savings to any extent that you can before a strike begins.
Other options are to call your mortgage or car loan provider and tell them you may not be able to make your payment and see if they are willing to work out a plan for repayment later. Many lenders for loans of all kinds are willing to be flexible if you ask ahead of time. MNA also has a strike fund that begins to pay a benefit of up to $500 a week starting on the 8th day of a strike if you are a member and picket for designated shifts if you are physically able.
Q. Will McLaren cut off my health insurance?
A. Threatening to take away nurses’ health insurance while on strike would be reprehensible. When GM tried to cut striking workers’ insurance in 2019, the backlash was intense enough that they quickly reversed their decision. None of the Big 3 automakers tried to do this during the most recent UAW strike. However, we must consider the possibility that our hospital executives are, in fact, hostile towards their workers. If we were to strike, we would time our work stoppage to limit the risk of losing insurance coverage during the strike.
Q. What does it take to have a successful strike?
A. SOLIDARITY! The more workers we have standing together, the stronger we will be. Every nurse who chooses not to stand with us - should we decide to strike - weakens our union and our bargaining position.