Following our successful info picket, it’s important to keep getting word out to the community about our fight for a fair contract! Stop by TONIGHT (11/14) between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. to pick up our brand-new yard signs.
The Bargaining Action Team (BAT) meeting is at St. Luke Lutheran Church - Christ Campus (122 S. Pennsylvania Ave.). Ring the doorbell at the door facing Michigan Avenue, then go to the gym in the basement.
Employer Confirms: Managers Got Bonuses
After all the media attention on our picket, the employer was forced to publicly admit that managers have received bonuses — despite claiming at the table that it’s suffered recent economic losses.
The employer told reporters that the bonuses were merit-based in a way that would not easily translate to frontline healthcare workers. Clearly this is reflective of the quality work we and our coworkers do every day. Hmmm. … Could it be possible that “merit” means saving money by forcing us all to do more with less?
New Employer Proposal, Same Old Lack of Respect
We negotiated Wednesday and then during negotiations today, the employer presented a new economic proposal that included the following:
• Raising premium costs for multiple healthcare plans and prescription costs.
• Eliminating the guaranteed union healthcare plans to move nurses and healthcare professionals to non-union plans with fewer benefits that can be cut at any time.
• Increasing wages but only to far below the cost of living.
• Failing to increase our retirement contributions or retiree healthcare.
It has become increasingly clear that the University of Michigan’s priority is on merely acquiring our hospital and the only investment it wants to make in our community is building new buildings — not in the people who make the health system run.
Keep the Solidarity Going!
We are in this to win it! To prevail, we need to keep up our solidarity and unity. The info picket was a great example of that. The signs were amazing! Check out the photo album on MNA’s Facebook page and let’s all keep that energy going strong!
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