UMH-Sparrow caregivers will go on strike

By Joseph

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UMH-Sparrow caregivers will go on strike

LANSING, MI — Unionized nurses and healthcare professionals at UMH-Sparrow will go on strike for five days, beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, the union announced Tuesday evening.

The union claims it has also filed charges against the hospital with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging unfair labor practices and a “pattern of bad-faith bargaining.”

UMH-Sparrow and the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PECSH-MNA) have been in contract negotiations since August.

The union’s approximately 2,000 workers have been working without a contract since October 30, and members voted nearly unanimously last month to authorize a strike.

According to the union, the most contentious issues during negotiations were access to affordable healthcare, competitive wages, and safe working conditions.

“It’s heartbreaking that we have to go on strike against an employer who appears to have unlimited funds for buildings but shows no commitment to investing in the people who do the work,” said Lindsey Davis, LMSW, a behavioral health social worker and member of the PECSH-MNA bargaining team.

Union members intend to picket outside of several locations until 9 p.m. each day, but will not disrupt access to Sparrow facilities such as the main hospital, Okemos’ emergency department, or the Sparrow Health Center on E. Grand River Ave.

In a statement to 6 News, UMH-Sparrow representatives expressed disappointment with the strike notice, saying that “while a work stoppage is a possibility, we remain confident that we can reach an agreement without one.”

Read Sparrow’s statement in full below:

We are disappointed the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital (PECSH)-Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) has issued a 10-day notice of a work stoppage.

It is important to note that while a work stoppage is now a possibility, we remain confident that we can reach an agreement without one.

We are currently taking steps to ensure that – in the unfortunate event that a work stoppage occurs – patients can still expect to receive the same safe, leading-edge and compassionate care close to home.

We take our commitment to the community seriously and have a contingency plan in place for staffing. We will be fully operational if there is a work stoppage, with safety and quality of care remaining of the utmost importance.

University of Michigan Health-Sparrow will continue to negotiate in good faith with our valued nurses and health care professionals for a fair contract that meets everyone’s needs while also ensuring our patients receive the highest quality of care.

Media Statement: 10-Day Notice of a Work Stoppage, UMH-Sparrow Jan. 7, 2025

The hospital and the union are scheduled to bargain again on January 16 and 17, with additional negotiation dates possible.

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