Nurses at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital are expected to make a counteroffer Wednesday to what hospital officials say is their final contract offer to settle a yearlong dispute with OPEIU Local 40.
Jeff Morawski, R.N., president of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 40, AFL-CIO, in Macomb Township, said the union and Ascension Providence Rochester are still far apart in negotiations that have resulted in three unfair labor practice charges.
"We had a conversation with their attorney (last Friday) and basically told them they have room to move on their offer. They said it was their last offer, but they don't get to decide if we are at an impasse," Morawski said. "We will have a conversation with the mediator Wednesday and present something for (the hospital) to consider."
Morawski said if Ascension does not agree to negotiate further, Local 40 will notify its 300 union nurses that it will recommend a vote to authorize a strike. OPEIU is required to give members a two-week notice for a vote, which could be held as early as Aug. 19.
In a statement, Ascension Michigan said it has been bargaining in good faith with OPEIU Local 40.
"We have presented a final offer that is fair and responsible in today's health care environment, but also collaborative and respectful of the diverse needs of OPEIU Local 40 and our registered nurses," Ascension said in a statement to Crain's.
"We are hopeful the hard work of both the hospital and OPEIU Local 40 representatives that went into this contract is recognized and soon brings the negotiation process to a successful conclusion."
Ascension Michigan, a 16-hospital system based in Warren, is part of Ascension Health, the nation's largest nonprofit health system with 150 hospitals based in St. Louis.
Morawski said OPEIU Local 40 has been bargaining with Ascension since July 2019 to sign a new contract that expired in September 2019. He said the main issues are wage increases, health benefits, use of agency nurses and inadequate staffing.
"OPEIU Local 40 has filed multiple unfair labor practice (charges) for surface bargaining, failure to provide information and regressive bargaining," Morawski said.
For example, Ascension Providence on July 2 stopped union dues deductions for the nurses. Morawski said the hospital's move was unfair, but the union has been collecting dues from nurses on its own the past month.
"The hospital's proposals are insulting and demeaning," Morawski said. "This is just another of many examples of Ascension Rochester attempting to bust our union and mistreat the true heroes during this pandemic."
The Ascension statement congratulated its employees and nurses for their response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on hospitals and health systems around the world, including Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital. As we continue to navigate the uncertainty and challenges of this health crisis, we remain committed to supporting our associates in a just and equitable manner as we have throughout the pandemic, working to ensure we continue to fulfill our mission of serving all persons, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable, for generations to come."
On Monday, some 50 nurses and supporters held an informational picket to protest alleged unfair labor practices and anti-union tactics at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital, Morawski said.
"It's time for us to come together as nurses and as a union to support each other and demand the respect we deserve," said Josephine Walker, R.N., vice president of Local 40. "Respect means more than nice words. It means bargaining in good faith and it means respecting our rights as nurses to have a say in our working conditions that directly affect our patients, our families and our livelihood."
Ascension said the hospital respects the right of OPEIU Local 40 to hold the informational picket. "As with any event of this kind, the safety and security of our patients, visitors, associates, physicians and picketers is our first priority," the statement said.
Morawski said another information picket will be held this Sunday in front of the hospital.
"We are trying to make a decision on whether to take (Ascension's) last best contract offer to a membership vote, or have a strike authorization vote. It depends on Ascension's response to our offer," he said. "We are pretty far apart in wages."
Union nurses at Local 40 at Ascension Providence have been working under a seven-year contract extension they signed in 2012 when right to work was approved in Michigan, he said.
Morawski said the union asked for 10 percent over two years to help make up for lack of wage increases since 2012. He said a lower counteroffer will be made.
"We are also asking for a reduction in the cost share of our health benefits and a freeze over the life of the contract," he said.
OPEIU Local 40 also represents radiology technologists and laboratory technologists at Ascension Providence Rochester and nurses and service employees at McLaren Macomb. Local 40 is a founding member of the OPEIU Nurses Council, which represents more than 14,000 health care professionals nationwide.
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