Contact:

Ann Kettering Sincox
517.349.5640 ext. 242 or 517.256.2312 (cell)
ann.sincox@minurses.org

or

Lisa Harrison
517.349.5640 ext. 238 or 517.927.6344 (cell)
lisa.harrison@minurses.org

March 28, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alpena Regional Medical Center gives final offer to nurses
No agreement reached; proposal will go to membership

Alpena, MI –No agreement was reached in the negotiations between Alpena Regional Medical Center  Registered Nurses and ARMC during negotiation sessions with the state mediator last Wednesday. Instead, the registered nurses, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, were given a final offer from ARMC administration.

“The management made it clear that this was ARMC’s final offer. We will take the offer back to our membership,” said Amy Pfeifer-Twite, RN Staff Council Unit 1.

“The bargaining team is not recommending that ARMC’s offer should be accepted,” continued Pfeifer-Twite. “We did not see any major movement by management on the key issues that will affect patient care in the community. Our request to add health and safety language into the contract has been ignored. The management continues to reject the voice of the nurses when it comes to making appropriate changes and recommendations in proper staffing for quality and safe patient care.”

In addition, Pfeifer-Twite commented, the economic package being offered by the Hospital will result in a financial loss for the nurses. “This package continues to be worse than what other union-represented employees are being asked to consider. The registered nurses that provide continual bedside care for this community are being treated with a complete lack of respect for our professional expertise and skills.”

The nearly 230 staff, supervisory and home care RNs at ARMC will vote on the proposed contract language in the next few weeks. The RNs have been working without a contract since February 23. 

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