Unionized health care workers at two Michigan hospitals are poised to strike next week after contract negotiations broke down.
About 120 registered nurses at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault in Sault Ste. Marie and 43 physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners contracted to work in the emergency department at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit plan to take to the picket lines, alleging unfair labor practices.
Both unions have been working for months without a contract.
Docs plan one-day strike, are assured patients will be OK
The Greater Detroit Association of Physicians at the east-side Detroit hospital plan to strike from 2 p.m. April 18 until 2 p.m. April 19, said Dr. John Bahling, co-founder of the St. John union, representing pediatric emergency medicine.
"We voted nearly unanimouslyto strike. The notification was sent to TeamHealth on April 8," he said of the Knoxville-based company owned by the private equity firm Blackstone. "We have (been) assured there is emergency backup coverage so no patients are harmed."
The St. John physicians filed their intent to organize a union with the National Labor Relations Board in May, and have been working since then without a contract. They allege that understaffing and poor working conditions have created an unsafe staffing situation in the emergency department, which has led to excessively long wait times for patients in need of care.
"It is sad that it has come to this," ER physician Michelle Wiener said in a statement. "This vote to strike shouldn't be necessary. We've put up with 15-hour wait times in the ER. We've been understaffed.We've had terrible working conditions."
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"We shouldn't be in this position," Bahling said. "For years, we've requested the tools and staffing to do our jobs and provide the highest possible quality of care to our patients, and TeamHealth and their subsidiaries have ignored us. It is unacceptable for this group of businessmen to manage an emergency room while making millions of dollars in profit and yet have no interest in providing a proper work environment so patient safety and care can be achieved."
TeamHealth issued a statement to the Free Press on Thursday, saying it has bargained in good faith.
"Any statement to the contrary is false," the statement said. "We invite the union’s leadership to return to the bargaining table and secure a resolution on reasonable and sustainable terms.
“Patients needing critical emergency care during this time should continue to come to the emergency department at Ascension St. John Hospital. We expect to keep the emergency department fully staffed, and day-to-day operations will not be interrupted.
"TeamHealth’s top priorities are delivering high-quality patient care and supporting our frontline clinicians, as they care for our communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. TeamHealth has provided clinicians with support and resources for over 40 years to deliver high-quality patient care, even in the face of material reimbursem*nt pressure from private insurers and Medicare."
Talks break down for Sault Ste. Marie nurses
At MyMichigan Medical Center Sault, the War Memorial Nurses Association Staff Council, which is affiliated with the Michigan Nurses Association, also authorized a five-day strike that will begin at 6:45 a.m. Monday and continue through 6:45 a.m. Saturday, April 20.
Bargaining broke down Wednesday night, the union said.
The nurses say their benefits and wages are not competitive with other U.P. and MyMichigan Health hospitals, making it difficult to retain nurses and maintain adequate staffing levels.
“While we wish it weren’t necessary to go on strike, we are united in doing what’s right for our patients and our community,” said RN Elizabeth Pancheri in a statement. “We really appreciate all the support we’ve been receiving — people can see through MyMichigan’s efforts to portray Soo nurses as greedy and ungrateful. Our community deserves better from MyMichigan. We welcome everyone to join us on the picket line as we fight for fair treatment and a fair contract.”
Kevin Kalchik, president, MyMichigan Medical Center Sault, said hospital leaders are disappointed that an agreement couldn't be reached Wednesday.
“We believe the proposal MyMichigan has on the table continues to be fair and reasonable and is in recognition of the good and hard work of the nurses in the Sault," he said in a statement. "MyMichigan continues to ask that the union allow the nurses to vote on this contract.We would hope, if they are allowed to do so, the nurses would ratify the proposal and end this labor dispute.
“While a strike looks imminent, and we appreciate and respect the nurses’ right to strike, we do not believe it is helpful to the MNA and MyMichigan reaching an agreement. A strike doesn’t change the proposal we have on the table that we believe to be a more-than-fair increase in wages and that will provide all of the nurses a significant increase in their compensation.”
Kalchik said the hospital is prepared for the strike, and will bring in nurses from other MyMichigan Health properties to work.
“Patient care and services will not be disrupted during the strike," he said. "The safety and care of our patients remain our top priority. We have security in place and are fully prepared and equipped to continue to deliver the excellent care our community deserves."
Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press.
