National Nurses United

J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 13 MICHIGAN M ichigan nurses Association (MNA) RNs at MyMichigan Medical Center Alma held a three-day unfair labor practice strike over the July 4 weekend to protest the employer's unfair labor practices and advocate for a fair contract. Nurses gave notice of the strike after the 16th bargaining session failed to produce agreement with MyMichigan, known as one of the most anti-union employers in the state. "MyMichigan's actions show nothing but disrespect and disregard for our nurses, our union, and our community," said Shenan Shinabarger, RN, president of the MNA union at the hospital and a member of the statewide MNA board. "Alma nurses work hard every single day to take care of our neighbors, but our caring nature doesn't mean we are pushovers who will accept less than we deserve." The nurses persevered through rain and record heat during the strike. Afterward, MyMichigan refused to let all of the nurses return to work—an act that nurses believe was retaliation. And in the next bargaining session, the employer reverted to proposing wage increases of 0 percent, 0.75 percent, and 0.5 percent in a three-year contract—rates even lower than before the strike. "While we remain committed to bargain- ing in good faith, we won't let ourselves be bullied into an unfair contract," said MyMichi- gan Alma RN Sarah Weber, a member of the elected RN bargaining team. "MyMichigan wants us to accept what's essentially a pay cut—we'd be doing the same work for less, with the rising costs of groceries, gas, and everything else. Who would say yes to that?" MNA has now filed with the National Labor Relations Board eight unfair labor practice charges that are under investiga- tion. The charges state that MyMichigan: • Withdrew their proposals because the union gave legally protected strike notice. • Without bargaining as required, stopped allowing nurses to trade shifts in advance of the strike. • Without bargaining as required, changed policies regarding the pulling and assignment of psychiatric care nurses to other departments. • Without bargaining as required, refused to allow paid time off accrual on weekend overtime despite clear contract language. • Talked directly to the wider hospital staff about proposals they didn't make at the bargaining table. • Withheld the holiday benefit from eligi- ble nurses. • Mandated on-call for an obstetrics nurse, violating the union contract. A hospital representative also made an unlawful threat against a union representa- tive, saying the Alma nurses would never get a contract after a legally required notice of picketing was given to MyMichigan. —Staff report RNs fight back with strike against anti-union employer

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