Alma Nurses to Hold 3-Day ULP Strike 9/21

MNA members voted overwhelmingly to reject MyMichigan’s contract offer

ALMA, MI – Nurses at MyMichigan Medical Center Alma will hold a three-day unfair labor practice strike starting at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21, after voting overwhelmingly to reject the employer’s most recent contract offer. The nurses announced the strike at their informational picket outside the hospital Wednesday (Sept. 9).

“Nurses have said all along that we won’t let MyMichigan bully us into a contract that amounts to a pay cut all the while illegally violating our union rights,” said Shenan Shinabarger, RN, president of the local Michigan Nurses Association union at the hospital and a member of the statewide MNA Board of Directors. “While we don’t take it lightly to hold a second strike, our nurses have given clear direction by voting overwhelmingly to reject MyMichigan’s inadequate offer. Alma nurses are strong and united and we will continue to demand respect in the workplace.” 

The elected RN bargaining team has been negotiating with MyMichigan for more than 9 months; the nurses’ union contract expired Feb. 16.  

The nurses gave MyMichigan 10-day notice of the ULP strike today (Thursday) so the hospital can prepare. This will be the nurses’ second ULP strike; the first was from July 3 to July 6.
 
At the most recent bargaining session on Sept. 1, MyMichigan executives refused to make meaningful movement and offered a “last, best and final” proposal with a general wage increase of 3.5% over four years (0.5% in year one, 0.75% in year two, 0.75% in year three, and 1.5% in year four). 

MyMichigan’s offer amounts to a pay cut when accounting for the rising costs of gas, groceries and other necessities, and fails to provide competitive wages that will recruit and retain nurses in an area that has other hospitals within driving distance.  

As part of negotiations, MyMichigan also tried to get the union to withdraw eight unfair labor practice charges that nurses have filed alleging actions that include retaliation. 

While MyMichigan is offering step increases in the first year of the contract and correction of nurses misplaced on the pay scale, nearly one in four Alma nurses would see no change in their wages during that time.

The nurses’ overwhelming rejection of MyMichigan’s proposal and declaration of a second ULP strike comes in the context of anti-union actions by MyMichigan; MNA has filed eight unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board that are under investigation. The charges state that MyMichigan: 

•    Withdrew their proposals because the nurses' union gave legally protected strike notice.
•    Without bargaining as required, stopped allowing nurses to trade shifts in advance of the strike.
•    Without bargaining as required, changed policies regarding the pulling and assignment of Psychiatric Care nurses to other departments.
•    Without bargaining as required, refused to allow PTO accrual on weekend overtime despite clear contract language.
•    Talked directly to the wider hospital staff about proposals they didn’t make at the bargaining table.
•    Withheld the holiday benefit from eligible nurses. 
•    Mandated on-call for an OB nurse, violating the contract.

A hospital representative also made an unlawful threat against a union representative, saying the Alma nurses would never get a contract after a legally required notice of picketing was given to MyMichigan.

The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest union and professional association representing registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO.