Mt. Pleasant, MI – Nurses at McLaren Central Hospital in Mt. Pleasant voted yesterday to ratify a new three-year contract. Nurses at MyMichigan Alma had also previously voted last Thursday to ratify their tentative agreement. Both new contracts took effect immediately upon the ratification votes.

While nurses at both hospitals were negotiating separate contracts with different health systems, they shared concerns about healthcare’s increasingly corporate climate and felt an urgent need to try to improve the situation through contract negotiations. Prior to reaching a deal, an overwhelming majority of RNs at both hospitals authorized their respective bargaining teams to be able to call for a strike should it be necessary. Deals were reached in both instances that avoided the need for a work stoppage.

Each contract has different specific provisions, however, both contracts:

• Protect and expand contractual staffing language;
• Provide competitive wages to recruit and retain RNs;
• Include limits to mandatory overtime.

“Nurses are feeling really proud of this new contract,” said Shenan Shinabarger, RN, president of the local Michigan Nurses Association bargaining unit at MyMichigan Alma. “As a union, we were able to make meaningful improvements that will benefit our patients and our community. We genuinely hope that this will make a difference for Alma in the long run.”

“This new contract shows what it is possible for nurses to achieve if we remain steadfast and are willing to fight for what is right,” said Jessica Harradine, RN, and president of the local Michigan Nurses Association bargaining unit at McLaren Central. “We will continue organizing together as a union to make sure that McLaren honors our ratified agreement and puts patients over profits.”

The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest union and professional association for registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and AFL-CIO.

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Contact: Amelia Dornbush; 517-896-7478