News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena have been restored. Click here to learn more.

Trinity Health workers file federal complaints alleging retaliation for union organizing

Nurses from Mount Sinai Hospital strike outside the hospital on Monday in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City.
Michael M. Santiago
/
Getty Images
Nurses from Mount Sinai Hospital strike outside the hospital on Monday in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City.

Recently fired employees have filed unfair labor practice complaints against Trinity Health Michigan.

They say they were fired after the company ignored their complaints of unsafe working conditions and retaliated against attempts to unionize.

Eleven lab technicians say they took a day off of work after their manager, who was supportive of their union efforts, was fired. They also say that supervisor was ordered to search their belongings for union sign-up cards, but refused. The following week, the lab techs were fired.

Matthew Miller is one of those former employees. Among his concerns are the patients at the Trinity medical center he says is already understaffed.

Miller says "The retaliation for trying to form a union is not only illegal but it's terrible and it's affecting our patients here."

The workers say they've filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.

Trinity Health did not respond to requests for comment.

Taylor Bowie is a senior studying English Literature at the University of Michigan and an intern in the Michigan Radio newsroom. She is originally from Owosso, Michigan.