The vote to authorize the strike does not mean one will definitely occur; rather, the union’s bargaining team has the option to call a strike if they conclude continued bargaining over a labor contract will be futile.
According to a statement from the Michigan Nurses Association, the contract between Mercy Health Partners and registered nurses represented by the union expired in October 2014. A federal mediator has been enlisted to facilitate further bargaining.
The strike authorization intends to “send a strong message” to hospital management and to reiterate that contract negotiations have been stalled over “safe staffing issues,” according to the report.
“Management’s refusal to address our staffing concerns may impact the quality of care for our patients,” said Bill Baker, president of the MNA Mercy Health Partners RN Council, according to the report. “A strike has not yet been called and can still be avoided. We are asking MHP to treat nurses with respect and work quickly on a proposal that allows us to focus on serving our community.”
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