MARQUETTE, MI— As contract negotiations continue, UPHS-Marquette nurses and techs will hold a rally next Monday.
About 600 workers are in bargaining over two separate contracts—one for the RN Staff Council and one for the Marquette Ancillary Staff and Technologists (MAST). The two unions are part of the Michigan Nurses Association. Lifepoint Health, which owns UPHS-Marquette, operates under the umbrella of the Apollo Global Management private equity firm.
Workers say they’re concerned not only about fair compensation to attract and retain employees, but also about their health insurance. Both groups have grievances pending about Lifepoint’s actions. They say the corporation tried to make RNs take an inferior plan in the fall and imposed changes that decreased care options. The unions claim Lifepoint also changed MAST members’ insurance to a plan with less coverage and more costs without proper notification. The MNA says LifePoint is again pushing to replace the health insurance that RNs have had for decades.
The rally will take place Monday, June 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Marquette’s Harlow Park.
