UP Health System–Marquette nurses reach tentative contract agreement

MNA RNs make significant gains in wages and staffing, keep current health insurance

MARQUETTE – UP Health System–Marquette (UPHS–Marquette) nurses reached a tentative contract agreement Sunday after months of bargaining. The agreement provides significant gains in wages, addresses staffing concerns, and enables nurses to keep their current health insurance.

"We are proud of our union solidarity that brought us to the point of reaching a tentative agreement that we can unanimously recommend to our members," said Christina Hanson, RN, president of the RN Staff Council at the hospital. "The community's outpouring of support lifted us up as we focused on making our local hospital even better. We achieved our priorities of competitive wages to attract and retain nurses, as well as strong new staffing language to protect patients. We look forward to ratifying the contract and are standing strong with our MAST colleagues as they continue to bargain with UP Health System."

Since March, about 600 UPHS–Marquette workers had been in bargaining over two separate contracts – one for the RN Staff Council and one for the Marquette Ancillary Staff and Technologists (MAST). The two unions are part of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA).

The nurses' tentative contract agreement is not final until the union's members vote on it Sept. 4 and 5. 

“Our nurses play an incredibly vital role in the delivery of healthcare at our hospital, so we could not be more pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that meets the collective needs of our staff, the hospital and the community,” said Tonya Darner, market chief executive officer of UPHS–Marquette and UPHS–Bell. “Together, we created a tentative agreement where our partnership can flourish, fostering an environment that values collaboration and enhances the quality of care for our community. We are grateful to everyone involved for their dedication to reaching a positive outcome. We remain committed to creating an excellent workplace for our employees and delivering the highest quality care to our patients.”

The nurses' tentative agreement includes: 

• Guaranteed wage increases of 18.75% over four years to bolster recruitment and retention at the U.P.'s largest hospital;
• A new joint committee of hospital representatives and union nurses that will review the hospital's staffing plans and address staffing issues; 
• Inclusion of staffing in the union's grievance process; and
• Continuation of the nurses' current health insurance.

MAST, the techs' union, will continue bargaining Sept. 2 and 3 as planned.

"MAST members are happy for our nurse colleagues, who are building on nearly 60 years as a strong union with this tentative agreement," said Josh Bowman, a medical laboratory scientist at the hospital, president of MAST and an MNA board member. "We look forward to returning to the bargaining table and we hope UP Health System shows a willingness to respect our priorities – including fair health insurance – so we can reach a tentative agreement that serves our members and our community well."

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

About UP Health System–Marquette
UP Health System – Marquette (UPHS – Marquette), a Duke LifePoint hospital, is a federally designated regional referral center for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A 222-bed specialty care hospital, UPHS – Marquette is a Level II trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. 
 
The Joint Commission awarded the hospital the Gold Seal of Approval for its primary stroke center in 2010, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan designated UPHS – Marquette a Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery, maternity care, and knee and hip replacement in 2016. 
 
The cancer care program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and is the only accredited cancer program in the Upper Peninsula. The hospital also holds a designation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and has received Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. 
 
UPHS – Marquette opened its state-of-the-art hospital on June 2, 2019. As Upper Michigan’s regional medical center, it recruits for both employed and private practice positions in Marquette and in hospital-owned clinics across eight other communities in the Upper Peninsula. 
 
The medical staff includes more than 200 providers and more than 1,700 employees who care for approximately 12,000 inpatients and more than 350,000 outpatients each year. 
 
Major services include the Heart & Vascular Institute, Cancer Center, Brain & Spine Center, Rehabilitation Center, Behavioral Health, Digestive Health, Bariatric Medicine & Weight Management Center, and Women’s Health, Family Birthing, and Pediatrics Center. The hospital also offers the region’s leading services in imaging, surgery and robotic surgery, and laboratory care. It is home to the UP Telehealth Network, one of the nation’s top telehealth systems, and serves communities throughout the Upper Peninsula with 42 primary and specialty care clinics.