Flint Nurses Demand Fair Contract, Prepare to Strike for Safety

Michigan Nurses Demand Safe Staffing and Fair Contracts

In Flint, Michigan, the registered nurses at McLaren Flint Hospital are taking a stand for patient safety and fair work conditions. Despite the hospital's nonprofit status, the focus on financial growth seems to overshadow concerns about adequate staffing levels, as claimed by the nurses.

The hospital recorded a net income of $24 million last year, according to ProPublica. The president and CEO, Christopher Candela, along with other top executives, received substantial compensation packages.

Nurses at McLaren have voiced concerns over the hospital's failure to adhere to proper nurse-to-patient ratios, which they argue compromises patient safety. With their current contract expiring soon, members of AFSCME Local 875 (AFSCME Michigan 925) are intensifying their efforts for change, as reported.

"Our patient safety is our No. 1 concern, and to provide safe patient care we need to have the appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios," stated Kelly Indish during a recent solidarity march. Indish, who holds positions as both the president of Local 875 and an AFSCME International vice president, emphasized the nurses' struggle with excessive patient loads.

Management's response, according to Indish, has been to suggest solutions that might exacerbate the staffing issue, such as reassigning lead RNs instead of increasing staff numbers. "They want to take our lead RNs and place them on assignment instead of increasing the staffing as we requested," Indish explained. "That would mean fewer nurses to care for patients."

The nurses are also advocating for more affordable health insurance, increased on-call pay, and reasonable wage increments. As Indish highlighted, "We as registered nurses need to be healthy in order to keep our patients and community healthy."

Despite these demands, the hospital administration seems reluctant to engage in meaningful negotiations. "They're definitely not taking us seriously," Indish remarked, noting that proposals have become less favorable since their march. "They don’t understand that when we fight, we win."

This growing tension led to an overwhelming 96% strike authorization vote by the hospital staff. With scheduled negotiation sessions approaching on September 30 and October 1, there is pressure on the administration to address the nurses' concerns seriously, marking the culmination of negotiations that began in January.