ESCANABA, MI-- Registered nurses at OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba are hitting the picket line Thursday to call for a fairer contract.
Laura Vizineau is an 11-year nurse at OSF. She says nurses want to be able to recruit and retain experienced RNs at St. Francis, but the hospital has some of the lowest starting wages in the U.P.
“We get a lot of brand-new nurses, having a local college here, but not a lot of experienced nurses want to come here for way less pay.”
Around 133 OSF RNs have been working without a contract since May 1. Negotiations are being held Wednesday, but if an agreement isn’t reached the next opportunity for talks is at the end of July.
Vizineau says she hopes the picket grabs the attention of administration and leads to a contract that offers better wages without taking away other benefits, as it does now.
OSF RNs, community members and Marquette nurses will meet at the Shopko parking lot Thursday at 4:15 p.m., then walk to the hospital.
