ANN ARBOR, MI - Hundreds gathered in support of the University of Michigan Professional Nurses Council (UMPNC) during a rally and informational picket on Saturday, July 14 at Fuller Park in Ann Arbor.

The UMPNC continues to negotiate a new contract with Michigan Medicine officials after its contract deadline expired on June 30.

UMPNC/Michigan Nurses Association Chair Katie Oppenheim, who spoke at Saturday's rally, previously noted union representatives have been working hard since January to reach an agreement for its 6,000 council members with Michigan Medicine, but key issues like retirement cutbacks, increased health care costs and guaranteed staffing levels remain unresolved.

Oppenheim said she believes Michigan Medicine's focus continues to be on growing across the state and "piling up a surplus on the backs of nurses," referencing the $103 million surplus Michigan Medicine reported from nearly $4.3 billion in revenue for 2018 at last week's UM Board of Regents meeting.

Michigan Medicine, nurses in contract talks as deadline nears



Oppenheim said the two sides continue to be apart on Michigan Medicine's calls for increased cost for healthcare co-pays and prescription drugs, as well as on a guaranteed contribution retirement plan.

Michigan Medicine Spokesperson Mary Masson said many of the negotiations with the UMPNC have been resolved since negotiations began in January.

The University has offered the nurses a compensation package that includes across-the-board increases of at least 3 percent and market-based adjustments to wages, retirement, as well as items important to nurse practitioners, such as designated administrative time, holiday pay and shift differentials, Masson said.



"Importantly, the University has committed to maintaining current staffing levels," Masson said. "The nurses' union has acknowledged that our staffing levels are excellent and the best in the state. Our nurses' scores from a recent internal survey reflect that they rate our staffing positively relative to their ability to care for our patient and family needs."

Oppenheim said she believes Michigan Medicine's focus continues to be on growing across the state and "piling up a surplus on the backs of nurses," referencing the $103 million surplus Michigan Medicine reported from nearly $4.3 billion in revenue for 2018 at last week's UM Board of Regents meeting.