Detroit, MI -- Two Registered Nurses, who are part of the DMC Organizing Committee for Change, were called into the Detroit Medical Center Human Resources (HR) office this morning to be disciplined for talking to colleagues about the union.  The registered nurses, Ceferina Sharpe and Ann Straka, who work in the Post Partum Unit of Hutzel Hospital, have a combined service of over 36 years. 

“We were very concerned," said Ann Straka. “We were told to report to the Human Resources offices to meet with the VP of Nursing, our unit manager, a Human Resources representative, and a DMC attorney.”

The nurses did report to the DMC HR office, supported by a group of 14 other RNs from DMC, State Representative Coleman A. Young, II, and MNA Labor Attorney Anita Szczepanski.

Registered Nurses throughout the DMC downtown campus have been actively and publicly building their union with the Michigan Nurses Association, to have a voice in the decision-making process that affects their patients and their profession.

“Our concern is about our ability to provide quality care to our community.  To (DMC CEO Mike) Duggan, it seems to be all about a business decision. Apparently he does not mind walking over our rights,” says Ceferina Sharpe, an RN at Hutzel Hospital for 21 years.

The nurses were accused of violating a DMC policy on distribution of literature by giving information on the union to their coworkers.

“Human Resources said there is a policy that forbids distribution of some types of information. We had not received a copy of this policy and were not aware that there was a policy. It has not been distributed since Hutzel Women’s Hospital become part of the DMC," said Sharpe.

In addition to today’s incident, Registered Nurses have been pulled off the floor and into managers’ offices for individual conversations with managers about the union. Throughout the campaign, managers have distributed anti-union literature on the units.
 
“What a double standard! DMC management has taken every opportunity to give an anti-union message, yet they violate federal law by telling the RNs that they are not allowed to distribute any kind of union literature, under any condition,” says Anita Szczepanski, MNA Labor Attorney.

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The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest, most effective union for RNs in Michigan. As the voice of all registered nurses in Michigan, MNA advocates for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community and at the bargaining table.  MNA is a constituent member of the United American Nurses and the American Nurses Association and an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.