National Nurses United

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 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 7 ANGELA J. CESERE | ANNARBOR.COM MICHIGAN " O ur local's long and rich history of securing a better work environment for our members and securing quality care for our patients underlies the foundation of the [University of Michigan nurse council]," John Armelagos, RN, ex - claimed from the podium. "Only through actions like today where thousands of our mem bers mobilize can we empower our negoti- ating team to win the best agreement possible." Cheers of support rang out for Armela- gos, a member of the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council (UMPNC), as he rallied his coworkers during an information- al picket held Aug. 13 in front of the Univer- sity of Michigan Health System's University Hospital. More than 1,000 registered nurs- es, all decked out in red, waved signs that said "Taking a Stand for Our Patients" and "Unfair Labor Practice" on them. At the heart of the issue: an expired contract coupled with management's "line in the sand" thinking regarding UMPNC members' ability to provide quality patient care. The employer is insistent on nurses paying 30 percent of their health insurance premium's total cost, plus taking additional cuts in contract benefits. Nurses have rejected these proposals. "You want to stay the leader, retain the best!" read one sign. "Nurses ARE the Michi- gan Difference," read another. Patients come from all over the world to be seen at Universi- ty of Michigan's hospital, commonly referred to as "U-M." Because of the complexity of cases, the nurses who work there must be familiar with extremely technical procedures and advanced equipment. U-M demands a high standard from its nurses and UMPNC members travel from all over Michigan and in neighboring states in order to practice there. But by diminishing the benefits pack- age and increasing the cost to nurses, UMPNC members are fearful that highly qualified nurses will go elsewhere, leaving the workforce unable to provide the quality patient care U-M demands. Recruitment and retention will become a significant issue and patient care will suffer as a result. The problem isn't money, stated Jeff Bres- lin, RN and Michigan Nurses Association president, during a recent press conference held in Ann Arbor. "In 2010, UMHS announced that they expected to double their projected operating margin to 3.3 percent. Not increase their projected operat- ing margin, but double it. Their projections for 2011 are even better, according to Crain's Detroit Business. The projected operating margin will increase to 4 percent with a projected revenue of $2.1 billion. This hospi- tal system has been in the black for the past 15 years. Yet the nurses are being asked to sacrifice? What's wrong with this picture?" In addition to the contract discussions being held hostage due to management's unwillingness to negotiate over health insur- ance benefits, earlier this summer the Michi- gan Nurses Association had to file an unfair labor practice charge against the hospital for unilaterally implementing a change in assignment without first discussing the changes with MNA. Now MNA has filed an amended charge that includes everything from engaging in regressive bargaining, to ignoring MNA as the certified bargaining agent, to not allowing employees to have requested union representation. The U-M Health System will be opening a new children and women's hospital complex in November, with a hefty price tag of $754 million. The complex, the biggest construc- tion project in Michigan and second in cost to the McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropol- itan Airport, will require 500 new employees for staffing. Boasting of its "world-class care" and being "internationally known for its high- quality advanced care for pregnant women, newborns, and children," U-M is, in fact, harming its nursing force, the majority of whom are women, with its proposal. "They [U-M] used your reputation, they used your integrity, your trustworthiness, to make billions of dollars in profits over the decades," said Deborah Burger, RN and member of National Nurses United's Coun- cil of Presidents, to nurses assembled at the picket. "It's time they gave back, not just to the community but to the nurses who made this place a world-class place." "What is to be done?" Armelagos asked. "Be strong and courageous. Stay active here at our local and in the community. Every one of us must be an organizer-leader recruiting others to action." —Ann Kettering Sincox University of Michigan Nurses Rally for a Contract to Protect their Patients NewsBriefs_Sept 10/11/11 9:30 PM Page 7

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