SAULT STE. MARIE, MI— Nurses at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault voted Tuesday night to authorize their bargaining team to call for an unfair labor practice strike, should it be necessary.
Nurses have been working under an expired contract since January 1st. They say after 12 bargaining sessions, the hospital has not yet offered compensation on par with other Upper Peninsula hospitals, addressed the rising cost of health insurance, or withdrawn a proposal asking nurses to give up their right to cash out unused PTO, when they allow non-unionized employees at other MyMichigan hospitals to keep that benefit.
RNs also feel the hospital surveilled them during an informational picket last week. The Michigan Nurses Association is investigating that allegation.
Previously, after an investigation by the federal government, the hospital was forced to post a settlement saying they would not illegally create the impression of surveilling RNs and would not illegally discipline nurses, including the union’s president, for engaging in protected union activity. More than ten charges of illegal behavior have been filed against MyMichigan by employees and unions in the past decade.
“If MyMichigan thought that they could bully Soo nurses and steamroll our community, they were very mistaken,” said Colleen Waucaush, RN, and president of the MNA local. “We know our rights. We know what our patients and our community need. We are prepared to do what it takes to hold them accountable.”
A ten-day notice would be provided to the hospital before any strike begins.
