Over 150 MNA (Michigan Nurses Association) nurses and community members held an information rally outside of MyMichigan Medical Center Sault on Spruce Street on Tuesday.
Nurses say they are frustrated by the attitude of MyMichigan executives who they say are demanding concessions in their contract that they have not asked of non-union nurses.
They are also concerned that the corporation is not offering wages that are competitive with other area hospitals.
Colleen Waucaush, president of the MNA local at MyMichigan Sault, says negotiations continue to be slow.
"We have reached out to MyMichigan administrators about negotiation dates, but they just keep bringing us the same thing. Their offer is still several dollars behind the other U.P. hospitals and other MyMichigan hospitals," Waucaush said.
Nurses were inspired by and appreciated the support from community members during the picket.
Allissa Persavich has been a nurse at the hospital for 12 years with the last eight being an obstetric (OB) nurse.
"I am in shock at how many people showed up. We have doctors here, nurses, and family members. It's just amazing the turnout we have and the support we are getting especially with the people honking and driving by and holding out signs. I am overwhelmed and so proud of this community in stepping up like this," Persavich said.
Persavich says she cares about the people in this community and the care they deserve.
"Safe staffing is the biggest thing. We cannot staff safely unless we have nurses that we retain and keep here. We have not been able to do that in the 12 years I have been here. If MyMichigan would step up and pay us what they pay their other nurses here in Michigan, we would be able to retain staff and have safe staffing in all the units," Persavich said.
"I hope we don't get to the point where we have to go on strike. I don't want to do that to our community members and our patients but we need MyMichigan to step up and put the funds where they need to be and treat all of the staff here right," Persavich concluded.
MyMichigan’s administration has yet to agree to any future negotiating dates as of their picketing, according to MNA.
MNA representatives at the scene Tuesday emphasized this rally was not a work stoppage, picket, or strike and that all participants attended outside of their work hours and participated without disrupting traffic flow or patient care.
