Flint Nurses Secure Contract with Focus on Patient Safety and Wages
Editorial StaffNurses in Flint Secure a Groundbreaking Contract with McLaren Flint Hospital
In a significant victory for Flint's nursing community, AFSCME Local 875 nurses have successfully negotiated a contract that promises to enhance patient care and improve working conditions at McLaren Flint Hospital. This agreement comes after months of determined negotiations and collective efforts.
Last week, the nurses, part of AFSCME Michigan, overwhelmingly voted to approve a new four-year contract. This contract is notable for its emphasis on patient safety and welfare, a priority the nurses have championed throughout the negotiation process.
Kelly Indish, a registered nurse and president of Local 875, expressed the importance of the contract by stating, "Throughout our negotiations with McLaren, nurses stayed strong and united to win a fair contract that puts our patients first." Indish, who is also an AFSCME vice president, highlighted that the agreement is a vital step for both union members and their patients, ensuring the ability to recruit and maintain safe staffing levels.
The contract includes several key provisions:
- A $10 per hour wage increase for all nurses
- Introduction of lead Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Formation of a safety committee with union and management representation
- An additional health insurance option for nurses
Negotiations, which began in January, were marked by a strong sense of solidarity among the nurses. They engaged in collective actions and received support from the broader Flint labor community. Indish acknowledged the crucial role of community support, saying, "We couldn’t have reached this point without the support we got from thousands of our neighbors and workers from other unions, and we can’t thank them enough."
During the contract discussions, the over 850 nurses of Local 875 prioritized patient safety, citing concerns about high nurse-to-patient ratios that could compromise care quality. They also advocated for enhanced health insurance options, increased on-call pay, and substantial wage hikes.
