6,200 nurses have been working without a contract since July 1

by Dawn Kettinger

The Michigan Nurses Association-University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council (MNA-UMPNC) has reached a tentative agreement with the university after more than two months of working without a contract.

MNA-UMPNC represents about 6,200 nurses throughout the University of Michigan. The parties had been bargaining since March 15, with the contract expiring June 30.

“Through our months of solidarity and collective action, nurses have stood strong to reach an agreement that meets our members’ priorities of protecting patients and investing in nurses so we can provide the best care possible,” said Renee Curtis, RN, president of MNA-UMPNC. “MNA-UMPNC nurses want to thank our community for all their support and advocacy over the months. Our elected nurse negotiating team is unanimous in believing that this agreement is a win for everyone who cares about nurses and the quality of care at the University of Michigan.”

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• An end to mandatory overtime; 
• An improved mechanism for enforcing contractual workload ratios; and 
• Competitive wages to recruit and retain skilled nurses.

Full details of the contract will be made available to the membership during meetings that will be held in the coming days. No additional details will be publicly released until after the membership has first had a chance to review and vote on the tentative agreement. The agreement only becomes final if ratified by the membership.