November 12, 2018 Bargaining Update
On November 12, 2018, the MNA and Employer met for the fourth bargaining session. The parties’ contract expired on October 19, 2018. The Union came prepared with several proposals. Of the most important, nurses were prepared to discuss safety, securing affordable health insurance and high employee turnover issues. Nurses believe the employee turnover is due to safety concerns, poor benefits, and inconvenient scheduling. The Employer rejected the Union’s attempt to discuss safety at the table and, instead, demanded that the Union keep submitting proposals.
Nurses are disheartened to see that the Employer is not urgently working to rectify grave safety concerns. Since the November 12, 2018 bargaining session, turnover is at its highest with three additional nurses resigning from their positions. Now understaffed, the Employer will begin to mandate nurses to work additional shifts and longer hours. Additionally, the Employer is binding nurses to a catastrophic health insurance plan. This has caused several nurses to avoid using their health insurance for necessary visits. It is unfortunate that the Employer has failed to provide affordable health insurance to nurses that provide front-line healthcare at the only Hospital in Baraga county. The Union hopes that the Employer will begin to meet with the goal of working to strengthen the successor contract and retain skilled nurses and address safety concerns. The parties meet again on December 3, 2018.
September 20, 2018 Bargaining Update
Baraga County Memorial Hospital nurses have begun contract negotiations with the hospital. After two bargaining sessions, it is clear that the hospital administrators are not willing to put patients over profits. As the front-line for the only hospital that serves Baraga County, the nurses are attempting to secure safe patient care for the residents against an administration that has led difficult negotiations in recent history. Baraga hospital nurses are fighting for a fair contract. It is time for Baraga County Memorial Hospital to put patients first!
Contact Francine Cerne at (906) 201-0732 or Deanna Foucault at (906) 395-7138 to find out how you can help.