Nurses at McLaren Lapeer Region have filed a federal unfair labor practice charge, alleging management added significant duties to their workloads without engaging in collective bargaining as required.
LAPEER, Mich. (WJRT) – Nurses at McLaren Lapeer Region have filed a federal unfair labor practice charge, alleging management added significant duties to their workloads without engaging in collective bargaining as required.
The Michigan Nurses Association charge states McLaren administrators shifted responsibility for obtaining and preparing certain medications from pharmacy to nurses. The charge also alleges McLaren shifted blood-drawing duties from phlebotomists to nurses despite an agreement not to do so and moved certain patient assessments from employees who historically performed them, including social workers, to nurses.
“It’s sickening that McLaren continues to cut corners by depleting other departments and forcing nurses to pick up those tasks, taking nurses away from our efforts to provide skilled care to patients and keep them safe in the hospital,” said Ashley Witmer, president of the MNA union at the hospital.
Witmer said nurses are standing up to McLaren executives who care more about increasing profits than doing what’s right for the community. The National Labor Relations Board will investigate the charge, which was filed on Aug. 28.
The charge comes as nurses advocate for a fair contract, with negotiations ongoing since March 11 and set to resume on Sept. 11. The contract expired on May 9, and the two sides remain far apart on key issues.
The nurses are demanding McLaren put patients over profits, noting McLaren Health CEO Phil Incarnati receives almost $12 million a year in compensation, an increase of 33% over three years. The union says McLaren refuses to invest in nurses and basic repairs at the hospital remain unaddressed.
McLaren Lapeer Region issued a statement saying it remains committed to bargaining in good faith with MNA representatives and reaching a fair agreement that recognizes the important contributions of nurses, supports the workforce, and ensures the hospital can continue providing exceptional care to patients and communities. The hospital said it respects the right of union leadership to communicate publicly but is disappointed by the timing and nature of the recent allegations.
“These claims were made during ongoing contract negotiations and appear intended to influence public opinion rather than advance constructive dialogue at the bargaining table,” the statement said.
“Our focus remains where it belongs: working collaboratively to reach an agreement that is fair, sustainable, and in the best interests of our nurses, patients, and community.”
The hospital noted McLaren Lapeer Region is a vital community resource and the area’s only verified Level II trauma center. The statement said physicians, nurses, and care teams deliver outstanding care to patients throughout the region every day, and the hospital remains committed to maintaining the staffing, resources, and operational stability necessary to preserve access to high-quality care close to home.
“We will continue to engage constructively in negotiations and believe the most productive place to address concerns is through the collective bargaining process,” the statement said.
“We deeply value our nurses and the exceptional care they provide, and we remain focused on reaching an agreement that recognizes their dedication while preserving the hospital’s ability to meet the evolving health care needs of the entire community.”
