News from the Michigan Nurses Association
​Contact: Sara Wallenfang; 517-974-4966

Nurses Ratify a New Contract with Duke Lifepoint

Contract gives nurses a stronger voice in staffing; includes wage increases and robust health insurance to attract and retain UP RNs

(Manistee, MI) This evening members of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) held an informational picket outside of Munson Manistee Hospital.


Like other nurses throughout the Munson Medical Care system, Manistee nurses are calling for a fair contract that will ensure safe RN staffing levels for patients. Part of ensuring safe staffing is ensuring competitive wages and benefits for skilled registered nurses and healthcare workers in the region.


“Munson has made $178 million in profits since 2013, yet administrators are asking Manistee nurses and healthcare workers to accept cuts to our retirement and healthcare benefits,” said Kari Zoscsak, RN, and President of the nurses’ union at Munson Manistee. “Requesting cuts is shortsighted and could jeopardize care.”


“My coworkers and I came down from Traverse City today because we face many similar issues at our hospital,” said Dagmar Cunningham, RN. “According to the data that administrators report to CMS, Munson pays some of the lowest wages in the state – Munson Manistee is 56th out of 72 reporting hospitals. My hospital, Munson Medical Center, is 63rd. And that is a problem for patients, because it encourages RNs to leave our communities.”


“Benefits cuts are unnecessary and will make it harder to hire experienced caregivers in Northern Michigan,” said Kristina Protasiewicz. “I hope that managers respond to this picket by bargaining a fair contract that addresses our concerns.”


The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest and most effective labor organization for nurses in the state, representing RNs at Munson Manistee Hospital and Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

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News from the Michigan Nurses Association
​Contact: Sara Wallenfang; 517-974-4966

During a Marathon Negotiating Session, Marquette Nurses and Duke LifePoint Reach an Agreement in Principle on the Terms of an Agreement
New collective bargaining agreement must be voted on by members

(Marquette, MI) The following statement should be attributed to Scott Balko, Operating Room RN and President of the UPHS Marquette Staff Council/MNA:

After more than a year of negotiations, including extensive bargaining that lasted late last night and through early this morning, Marquette nurses and Duke LifePoint executives have agreed in principle on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.

This is a win for our entire UP community, and we could not have come this far without strong community support. I want to thank all of our friends, family members, and neighbor who continue to support us.

Details of any tentative agreement will not be disclosed until presented to members at ratification meetings, which will be schedule as soon as possible.

The UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council represents about 375 Registered Nurses at UP Health System – Marquette. The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest, most effective union for registered nurses in Michigan, advocating for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table. 

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News from the Michigan Nurses Association
​Contact: Sara Wallenfang; 517-974-4966

Deadline Announced: Marquette Nurses Prepared to Set Strike Dates
Duke LifePoint must agree to a fair tentative contract with safe staffing by Thursday

(Marquette, MI) The following statement should be attributed to Scott Balko, Operating Room RN and President of the UPHS Marquette Staff Council/MNA: 

On May 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, nurses will meet with Duke LifePoint managers in a last-ditch effort to reach a tentative contract agreement. After more than a year of negotiations, including three outstanding unfair labor practice charges, we are disappointed that administrators still seem unprepared to make specific proposals at the bargaining table. 

If at the end of the day on Thursday we have not reached a tentative contract agreement, we are fully prepared to give notice and set a strike date. Nurse understaffing continues to jeopardize patient safety. Any tentative agreement must ensure that Marquette nurses do not take cuts to health insurance and retirement; such cuts would make it even harder to attract and retain enough qualified RNs.

Background 
Nurses have been in contract negotiations with Duke LifePoint since April 18, 2017 fighting for guaranteed safe staffing levels needed to protect patients across the Upper Peninsula. A two-month extension expired on July 28, and RNs have been working without a contract since. On October 5 and 6, nurses conducted a two-day strike to highlight ongoing patient safety concerns. A vote authorizing the nurse-leaders to call a second strike was held on April 20 and 21. The elected nurse bargaining team has the authority to call a strike, and by law, they are required to give the hospital ten days of notice.

The UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council represents about 375 Registered Nurses at UP Health System - Marquette. The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest, most effective union for registered nurses in Michigan, advocating for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table.

Marquette Nurses Overwhelmingly Vote to Authorize a Second Strike
Duke LifePoint has failed to address safe staffing concerns and RN retention

(Marquette, MI) Over the course of a two-day vote, nurses of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike.

Nurses have been in contract negotiations with Duke LifePoint since April 18, 2017 fighting for guaranteed safe staffing levels needed to protect patients across the Upper Peninsula. A two-month extension expired on July 28, and RNs have been working without a contract since. On October 5 and 6, nurses conducted a two-day strike to highlight ongoing patient safety concerns.

“Very little has changed since our first strike in October,” said Scott Balko, operating room RN and president of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA. “Nurses still take the decision to strike very seriously, and we will do whatever it takes to protect our practice and the community that we serve.”

Voting closed at 9 p.m. on April 21, and at that time, no strike date had been set. The elected nurse bargaining team has the authority to call a strike, and by law, they are required to give the hospital ten days of notice.

“Apparently, Duke LifePoint executives in Tennessee continue to focus on profits. They seem to be unconcerned about attracting and retaining highly skilled nurses to work in Marquette,” said Janie Klamerus, staffing pool RN and bargaining team member. “The nurses who dedicate their lives to serving the UP deserve fair compensation and safe working conditions.”

“I want to thank all of our friends and neighbors who were so supportive through the first strike. They understand exactly why we must act. This is about protecting local families and providing the highest quality of care,” said Sam Ditty, staffing pool RN and member of the bargaining team. “We have been in negotiations for a little over a year now. It is long overdue for Duke LifePoint to agree to a contract that includes meaningful safe staffing language.”

The UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council represents about 375 Registered Nurses at UP Health System - Maquette. The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest, most effective union for registered nurses in Michigan, advocating for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table

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News from the Michigan Nurses Association
Contact: Sara Wallenfang, 517-974-4966
 
The National Labor Relations Board Issues a Complaint Against Duke LifePoint
Hospital broke federal labor law by retaliating against Marquette nurses for union activity
 
(Marquette, MI) On Monday, March 26, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint against Duke LifePoint regarding three Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges filed by the Michigan Nurses Association on behalf of nurses at Marquette UP Health System. The complaint alleges that the hospital violated the National Labor Relations Act and “has been interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees.”
 
Marquette nurses experienced illegal threats and intimidation from supervisors for participating in a two-day strike to call for safe staffing at the hospital. Nurses who serve on their union bargaining team also received negative evaluations on their performance reviews.
 
This type of retaliation for union activity is expressly prohibited in federal labor law and undermines efforts by nurses to achieve a fair contract with staffing standards that protect patient care.
 
The NLRB seeks to change a negative performance review given to a nurse based on her union activism and gives notice of a hearing to establish further remedies, scheduled for July 24, 2018.
A copy of the NLRB complaint is available here: http://bit.ly/DukeULP
 
The strike, held on October 5 and 6 of 2017, was a legally protected ‘concerted action’ regarding working conditions. Nurses have been in contract negotiations with Duke LifePoint since April 18 and say contract language that establishes minimum nurse staffing levels is necessary for the safety of the community.
 
A two-month contract extension they negotiated with Duke LifePoint in late May lapsed on July 28 after management failed to address staffing concerns. Nurses are currently working without a contract.
 
Nurses continue to fight for safe staffing at the hospital through union negotiations and take every opportunity to draw public attention to their patient safety concerns. MNA is currently running radio ads in both Marquette, Michigan and Durham, North Carolina highlighting Duke University’s responsibility for conditions at the hospital.  
 
The radio ads and scripts are available here: http://tinyurl.com/DukeRNStaffing   
 
The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest, most effective union for registered nurses in Michigan, advocating for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table.

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(MARQUETTE, MI) On Friday, March 23, the Michigan Nurses Association will begin a radio ad campaign to highlight Duke University’s responsibility for conditions at a hospital in the Upper Peninsula. Since Duke partnered with the for-profit health care system LifePoint to purchase Marquette General Hospital, nurses have been scheduled to work dangerously long shifts without enough staffing to keep patients safe.
 
The ads are will begin during the March Madness college basketball tournament.
 
“The real ‘madness’ is the sixteen hour shifts that Marquette nurses are routinely expected to work,” said Scott Balko, Operating Room RN and President of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA. “We are running ads, both in Marquette and in North Carolina, because the people affiliated with Duke University should be aware that their good name is being tarnished by unsafe RN staffing practices in Michigan. Understaffing puts patients in danger.”
 
The radio ads and scripts are available here: tinyurl.com/DukeRNStaffing
 
Marquette nurses have been in contract negotiations with Duke LifePoint since April of 2017 and have been working without a contract since July 28.
 
“We call on Duke University and their partners at LifePoint to negotiate a fair contract that guarantees safe nurse staffing to protect our community,” said Balko.  
 
The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest, most effective union for registered nurses in Michigan, advocating for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table.

News from the Michigan Nurses Association
Contact: Andrew Baker; 517-488-1707

(Marquette, MI) Yesterday, UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/Michigan Nurses Association members stepped up their efforts to draw attention to chronic RN short staffing, forced RN overtime, and unsafe patient care conditions at UPHS Marquette.
 
Nurses ran a full-page color ad in the Duke Chronicle, a paper for students and alumni of Duke University, asking why trustees would allow the Duke LifePoint partnership to drag their health system’s sterling reputation through the mud in exchange for a small cut of hospital profit.
 
“Duke University Health System presents itself as a world-class institution, but conditions in Marquette tell a different story. Maybe they put patients first down in North Carolina, but it seems like they are just cashing in on their partnership with LifePoint in the UP,” said Scott Balko, Operating Room RN and President of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA. “Hopefully this gets Duke’s attention, and they live up to their responsibility to our patients.”
 
In 2012, non-profit Marquette General Hospital was purchased by Duke LifePoint, which is a for-profit
partnership between Duke University Health System and LifePoint Health. Nurses say that the result is a “profits over patients” mentality that tarnishes Duke’s good name.
 
A copy of the ad that was placed in the Duke Chronicle can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/t3g6kya5ll9ifxx/Duke%20Chronicle%20Ad.pdf?dl=0
 
For background information, visit: www.supportUPnurses.org/press-release

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UPDATE FROM MARQUETTE NURSES
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(Marquette, MI) Statement from Stephanie DePetro, OR Nurse at UPHS Marquette and Chief Grievance Officer of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA:
 
The Michigan Nurses Association has yet to receive any official notification regarding a state investigation of nurses’ complaints at UPHS Marquette, and we look forward to reviewing the full report and its methodology as it becomes available.  

UP Health System Marquette nurses reported unsafe conditions to Duke LifePoint management on over 200 Assignment Despite Objection Forms between January 1 and August 24, documenting at least 783 consequences for patient care. Incidents of unsafe patient care were reported, including:

• 111 cases of one or more IVs running dry or medicines being given late
• 12 reports of one or more patient falls (4 in one day in one unit)
• 259 reports of one or more nurses going without breaks, lunches or being mandated to work shifts that could be dangerous to patients (up to 16 hours)

Common sense suggests that a proper investigation prompted by the ADO reports submitted to the state should include attempts to interview the nurses who filed the complaints. From what we understand so far, none of the nurses filing the ADO reports were contacted by state investigators regarding those documented incidents.

Marquette nurses will continue to advocate for the highest quality of patient care, because hospital safety is not a simple pass/fail endeavor. We have documented hundreds of patient safety concerns, and at this time, we are not convinced that the state has adequately looked into those issues.

For background information, visit: www.supportUPnurses.org/press-releases

(Marquette, MI) Statement from Scott Balko, Operating Room RN and President of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA:

On Thursday and Friday, MNA nurses at UPHS-Marquette took our fight for safe staffing to the picket line. Our strike ended Saturday morning at 6:59 AM. Anyone who visited the line knows what a huge success it was.

We deeply appreciate the tremendous outpouring of solidarity from the Marquette community, and that continued support means the world to us. Nurses are not calling for more picketing at this time, but we do need your help now and for the long haul as we advocate for quality care.

As a next step, we are asking businesses and home owners to display window and yard signs from now until a new contract is signed. When out of town strikebreakers or out of state Duke LifePoint executives visit, even if they don’t identify themselves, they need to see constant reminders of the solidarity that was so evident on the strike line. MNA is printing signs, and of course, handmade signs are great too.  

Signs are a next step, not a last step. Thank you for standing with local nurses as we continue to work toward a fair contract that includes safe staffing language for our patients.
 
For background information, visit: www.supportUPnurses.org/press-releases

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