Over 600 Nurses Stage Walkout at Michigan Hospital Over Staffing Dispute
In a significant labor action, more than 600 nurses have left their posts at a hospital near Flint as of 8 a.m. Monday. The core issue at hand between the nurses’ union and Henry Ford Health revolves around staffing levels, with a particular focus on the nurse-to-patient ratios.
This development follows the merger last fall when Henry Ford Health joined forces with Ascension Michigan, creating Michigan’s second-largest healthcare system. The healthcare facility now known as Henry Ford Genesys, previously Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, is directly impacted by this workforce action.
Dan Glass, the president of the local Teamsters Union, highlighted that Henry Ford is attempting to modify crucial elements of the union contract, notably the staffing level agreements initially negotiated with the previous hospital management. “They just want standard policy across the board instead of recognizing that each union has collectively bargained this agreement with the previous employers. And we want those agreements honored,” Glass stated.
Compensation for the nurses is also a topic of contention in these negotiations.
Despite the strike, a spokesperson for Henry Ford Health emphasized the institution’s dedication to maintaining safe staffing models that ensure high-quality patient care. Dana Jay, Henry Ford Health’s manager of public and media relations, remarked, “As the Teamsters strike at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, hundreds of dedicated team members and contract nurses remain on the job. The hospital remains open, providing the safe, seamless, high-quality care patients deserve.”
Henry Ford Health has encountered similar issues at another former Ascension site. In June, nurses briefly staged a walkout at the Rochester hospital within the system, with the dispute also centering on staffing levels. According to a union official representing the nurses, this matter has yet to reach a resolution.
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