For Immediate Release
Contact: Sara Wallenfang; 517-974-4966
Unfair Labor Practice charges allege illegal stalling tactics by hospital management
(Traverse City, MI) Today, the Michigan Nurses Association filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against Munson Medical Center with the National Labor Relations Board. The charges allege that Munson administrators broke federal labor law by failing to provide RNs with economic proposals in a timely way.
“As nurses, we made a proposal on wages to the hospital more than two months ago. Managers have yet to offer a response or counter proposal,” said Cindy Rydahl, Munson RN and member of the bargaining team. “Right now, our hospital is ranked seventh in the state according to U.S. News and World Report. But it is going to take a fair economic proposal to attract and retain nurses to continue to provide the highest quality of care to northern Michigan.”
RNs are currently negotiating their first union contract at Munson and urge the hospital to bargain an agreement that will fully support their patients and their profession. In addition to stalling on economic proposals, the ULP charges assert that the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer should recognize the union and participate in bargaining, and that the Medical Center has disciplined or intimidated nurses based on their engagement in protected union activity.
“We are grateful for the tremendous community support that we have received so far. Everywhere you go in Traverse City and throughout the county, Munson RN signs are visible,” said Melinda Acosta, Munson RN. “I think our friends, families, and neighbors recognize that nurses are fighting to make our hospital the best it can be.”
More than 2,500 supportive yard and business signs have been distributed, and nurses recently launched a radio ad campaign featuring local patients. The ad and a community petition in support of nurses can be found at: www.munsonnurses.org
The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest, most effective union for registered nurses in Michigan, advocating for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table.
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