A union representing nurses in Traverse City has, for the first time, ratified an agreement with Munson Medical Center.
The contract includes a 13% raise over three years and limits the use of mandatory overtime.
The nurses have been bargaining with Munson since December of 2017 and even filed charges last year with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the hospital was not bargaining in good faith.
It’s not clear what will happen with those charges in light of the newly ratified contract.
James Walker is part of the bargaining team for the union. He said this is the largest successful unionization effort in Michigan since “Right to Work” laws were passed in 2013.
“I think that this is just a really, you know, historic and momentous thing for all workers.”
Walker said the contract was ratified by over 98% of union members. The union represents over 1,000 nurses at the hospital
Dianne Michalek is the Vice President of Corporate Communications for Munson. She said the hospital is pleased that the union ratified the contract.
“Our top priority has always been to ensure that our patients receive the highest quality of care and our nurses, just like the rest of our healthcare team, are critical to that goal.”
Michalek said the contract reflects the hospital’s commitment to ensuring all employees have access to a fair and competitive wage and benefits package.
In the interest of transparency, Munson Medical is a financial supporter of WCMU.