GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJRT) – Henry Ford Health is declaring an impasse in contract negotiations with nurses at Genesys Hospital and will begin imposing contract terms soon.
The hospital system issued a statement Tuesday, saying negotiations have stalled with very little progress more than two months after registered nurses in Teamsters Local 332 went on strike.
Henry Ford Health says it will move forward with unilaterally imposing terms of its contract offer to the union, including pay raises and identical nurse-to-patient ratios included in the recently expired Teamsters contract.
Teamsters 332 President Dan Glass accused Henry Ford Health of negotiating “in bad faith” and following an anti-union stance during talks this year.
“Our members have been committed to reaching a fair deal since day one, yet management forced them onto the picket line for two months,” he said. “Now, management is attempting to unilaterally impose contract terms. This is unacceptable.”
Henry Ford Health says it will continue negotiating with Teamsters Local 332 while implementing its terms. Glass said union members will remain on the picket lines outside the hospital and stand strong for what they believe in.
“We will not allow Henry Ford Health to jeopardize critical health care workers and their patients,” he said.
The pay raises average about 5.3% for all nurses, but some positions will earn up to 8.6% more. The hospital says 60% of its nurses will earn a base wage of more than $100,000 per year when the new pay scales are implemented.
The new wage scale will be offered to all currently employed nurses, new hires and any Teamsters members who leave the picket lines and return to work.
Henry Ford Health has accused the Teamsters nurses of manipulating their expired contract, which they negotiated with Ascension Michigan, by coordinating sick calls so nurses who come into work will have to care for more patients and qualify for a premium wage scale.
Ascension Michigan operated Genesys Hospital until last winter, when a new joint venture headed by Henry Ford Health took over operations of the facility.
Teamsters 332 denied the hospital’s claims of coordinating sick outs. Members say they are on strike to uphold safe nurse-to-patient ratios, which they believe is important for staff and patient safety.