The nurses union at MidMichigan Medical Center Gratiot in Alma is expected to hold an informational picket on Thursday as the group continues negotiations for a new contract.
The picket is intended to raise awareness about what nurses hope to gain from a new contract.
Shenandoah Shinabarger is a nurse in the union.
“We are calling on management to provide us with pay equity in order to recruit and retain qualified, skilled nurses at Gratiot,” she said. “We are also wanting to improve our staffing guidelines.”
Specifically, Shinabarger said nurses are asking for pay equity and better nurse-to-patient ratios.
She said nurses in Alma are paid less than other nurses within the MidMichigan Health network.
Shinabarger said nurses will continue working but will join the informational picket when not scheduled at the hospital.
“We’re hoping with the informational picket we’ll be able to bring awareness to the community about what is going on and how the nurses at Gratiot are being treated.”
Shinabarger said there are roughly 150 nurses in the local union.
MidMichigan Medical Center Gratiot could not be reached for comment.