LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — In an nearly unanimous vote nurses and healthcare professionals with the Skilled Worker Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Affiliation (PECSH-MNA) agreed to “give their elected bargaining team the ability to call a strike if necessary.”
The vote complete was 98.7% sure to permit for a strike if wanted.
The PECSH-MNA mentioned its contract for about 2,000 employees expired on October 30, 2024. Now, it’s working to barter a brand new contract, which the union says will assist appeal to and retain nurses and healthcare professionals.
“The overwhelming ‘yes’ vote sends a clear message to Sparrow executives that we are fed up with their disrespect and willing to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract,” mentioned Jeff Breslin, RN, president of PECSH-MNA. “We have to get this contract right, because it’s bigger than us – it’s about the future of patient care in mid-Michigan. How will our area’s largest hospital, our only Level 1 Trauma Center, have enough skilled nurses and healthcare professionals to provide quality care for our community? Sparrow won’t be able to recruit and retain high-quality RNs and healthcare professionals for our patients if we accept what executives are trying to push on us.”
The College of Michigan Well being-Sparrow has launched the next assertion:
We’re disillusioned that our colleagues from the Skilled Worker Council of Sparrow Hospital (PECSH)/Michigan Nurses Affiliation (MNA) have voted to authorize a strike although you will need to perceive that no strike is at the moment scheduled.We stay assured that we are able to attain settlement with no strike. We’re dedicated to persevering with our collaborative discussions with these staff members that symbolize our valued affected person care groups and play an essential position in well being care supply.We’re at the moment planning to make sure protected staffing ranges if a strike happens. Sufferers can nonetheless anticipate to obtain the identical high-quality care.College of Michigan Well being-Sparrow seems to be ahead to persevering with to work in good religion with our PECSH/MNA colleagues to barter a good contract for staff members.Our nurses and well being care professionals are very important to defending the well being of our communities and the way forward for this well being system. We perceive the urgency and the significance of a contract that meets everybody’s wants, whereas additionally making certain our sufferers obtain the very best care.
College of Michigan Well being-Sparrow
The nurses union mentioned negotiations are scheduled to proceed by means of Dec. 19.
