Traverse City RNs Reach Tentative Contract Agreement with Munson

Union members will hold ratification vote next week
 
TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- Munson Medical Center nurses reached a tentative contract agreement with the employer after a 20-hour bargaining session that ended early this morning (Wednesday, 6/3).

“We are excited to bring this agreement before our fellow nurses because it hits on key priorities like recruiting and retaining enough nurses to provide safe care,  protecting nurses’ retirement, and establishing guardrails on AI,” said Laura Nilsson, RN, president of the Traverse City Munson Nurses Association (TCMNA), a local Michigan Nurses Association union, and co-chair of the bargaining team. “We stood strong for a contract that will mean a better workplace for nurses and better care for our patients.”

The nurses have been working without a contract since it expired March 10. 

Details of the tentative agreement will not be released publicly until after the members vote on it next week, but broadly speaking it includes: 
•    Competitive wage increases 
•    Guardrails around AI and technology 
•    Protected retirement contributions by the employer

The agreement comes after months of negotiations and advocacy including a packed town hall, a petition signed by thousands of community members, and a practice strike by nurses. 

The next step is for the elected bargaining team to share all the details of the agreement with their fellow nurses and hold the ratification vote. That will happen in sessions on Tuesday, June 9, and Wednesday, June 10. The results are expected to be released late Wednesday (June 10). 

The nurses expressed gratitude for all the community support they have received. 

“We are proud to take care of our community and so grateful for all their support throughout this months-long bargaining process,” said James Walker, co-chair of the TCMNA bargaining team. “It is great to know that our community has our backs.” 

The Traverse City Munson Nurses Association (TCMNA) is a local bargaining unit of the Michigan Nurses Association, 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.
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