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

or

Diedre Murch, MNA
517.349.5640, ext. 220
517.449.7316

November 12, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NLRB approves nurses’ union

Muskegon – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a certificate approving the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) as the exclusive bargaining representative for the Registered Nurses at Mercy VNS & Hospice (formerly Hackley Visiting Nurse Services & Hospice, Inc.), ending a four-month stand-off with the hospital.

“It is ridiculous that this much time and money has spent fighting a decision that both the nurses and the NLRB have approved,” stated John Karebian, MNA Executive Director. “The waste that has been incurred by Trinity Health’s unwillingness to work with their nurses is shameful. Imagine if the health system paid that much attention to addressing issues such as safe patient care and creating a work environment that promotes quality care.”

The battle between Trinity Health and the nurses began long before July 2009 when the nurses first voted to have MNA serve as their certified bargaining agent. The campaign to form a union was vigorously opposed by management at every turn. After the election, Trinity Health fought the decision by claiming that the upcoming merger between the organization and Mercy Homecare rendered the election “unnecessary and improper,” a decision the NLRB overruled in its entirety.
In late August, Mercy VNS and Hospice, Inc. went against the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by significantly changing the nurses’ terms and conditions of employment as a result of the merger. This action resulted in an Unfair Labor Practice Charge and a Unit Clarification Petition, both of which were ruled by the NLRB in favor of the nurses and the MNA.

“From the time the nurses first decided to form a union, Trinity Health has been uncooperative and done everything in their power to ignore the wishes of their nurses,” said Anita Szczepanski, MNA Labor Attorney. “This has resulted in Trinity Health spending money on legal fees that could be used to provide health care services, NLRB fines and man hours devoted to disputing the rights and decisions made by their professional nursing staff. Everything Trinity Health has tried has failed because of their flagrant abuse of labor law. It is disturbing that a health system would treat the professional nurses who provide direct care for its patients so cavalierly.” 

Meanwhile, the nurses have elected officers and are working on the proposal for their first contract. “This has been a long uphill climb,” stated Kathy Welsheimer, RN. “We are thankful that we can now concentrate on the reasons why we chose to become a union in the first place – to have a voice at the table when decisions are made that affect nursing patient care within the organization.”

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 an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.