Members of Alma's nurses' union voted down a recent proposal from MyMichigan on Tuesday night. Last week, hospital administrators told the nurses it was their "last, best and final offer."
The nurses have been without a union contract since February. Last week marked their 18th bargaining session with hospital administrators.
“None of us thought when we started this back in January that we would still be here trying to fight for a fair contract,” said Sarah Weber, who is a nurse and a member of the bargaining team. “We're exhausted, but our members are fired up and they're not willing to settle for less."
Webber said the union is still unhappy with the wage increases offered in MyMichigan's current proposal.
“We won’t let ourselves be bullied into an unfair contract,” Weber said in response to the three-day strike the nurses went on in July. “We’d be doing the same work for less, with the rising costs of groceries, gas and everything else. Who would say yes to that?”
MyMichigan told WCMU in a written statement last week that they are trying to balance the long-term needs of the hospital with the needs of the nurses.
“MyMichigan believes its nurses will see the substantial economic benefit of this final offer and hopes that it will be ratified so that the nurses can receive the immediate raises that they deserve,” the statement read.
Weber said the nurses' union did not pass that proposal and is planning their next steps in the negotiation process.
While the union is not prepared to give up on their efforts, Weber said the nurses are exhausted.
“Anytime we negotiate, we're constantly moving our own schedules around to meet the needs of MyMichigan so that we can get dates to bargain,” Weber said. “A lot of us have kids in school, we have other jobs.”
Weber said the nurses will be picketing outside of the hospital Wednesday Sept. 9 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
“We can't even begin to express how grateful we are for having such an involved and caring community,” Weber said. “It helps support our nurses when we're fighting a corporation that we feel doesn't care about us.”
MyMichigan has not yet responded for comment on this latest development.
WCMU's Rural Life and Agriculture reporting is made possible through the generous support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
