Sault nurses authorize possible strike to resolve contract negotiation
SAULT STE. MARIE — MyMichigan Medical Center Sault nurses have authorized an organized strike to fight for better wages and benefits.
Since Jan. 1, the Sault nurses have been involved with negotiations for new nursing contracts. The previous contract expired at the end of the year, and nurses have been working under the expired contract ever since.
MyMichigan Sault was known as War Memorial Hospital for most of its life, and in 2022 partnered with MyMichigan in an effort to help improve the hospital and its functions. During the transition from War Memorial to MyMichigan, many changes were made to employee benefits programs and pay structure, and nurses want things back to the way they were before.
More: Nurses at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault form picket line
During negotiations for the new contract, nurses asked for better pay to make up for recent rises in living costs and a return of War Memorial benefits.
According to nurses, the lack of competitive pay has led to many nurses leaving the job, making the hospital understaffed and leading to longer wait times.
Some of the benefits that the nurses are asking for include lower deductibles and health insurance for spouses. MyMichigan hospital officials disagree that the benefits package is worse, and argue that the increase of some benefits offsets issues such as paying premiums.
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To regain their benefits and get better pay, nurses have been advocating for themselves in the community through social media and organized events, including picket lines.
On March 12, hundreds of nurses, doctors and other community members took part in a large picket outside of the hospital. The picket line was organized beforehand with off-duty nurses and was designed to not interrupt hospital care.
On Tuesday, March 19, nurses voted to authorize their bargaining team to call an unfair labor practice strike should it be necessary. Just because a strike has been authorized does not mean it will occur. Nurses must provide a 10-day notice before striking.
“The ball is in MyMichigan’s court,” said Stacey Duchin, an ER nurse and member of the nurses’ negotiating team. “MyMichigan’s executives in Midland make millions. Now that we have shown that we’re willing to hold them accountable, we hope that they will start acting in good faith. If they don’t, they will have no one to blame but themselves when they get notice of our intention to strike.”
MyMichigan Hospital did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Sault nurses authorize possible strike to resolve contract negotiation
