While the University of Michigan Health System is engaged in negotiations with the Michigan Nurses Association / National Nurses United for a contract to replace the one that expired on June 30, the union has continued to try to use bad faith bargaining charges and informational picketing as leverage.  The parties have met more than 37 times since April in an effort to reach agreement, so far without success.

On August 2, the MNA filed an amended charge with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) alleging that the Health System made regressive bargaining proposals, unilaterally changed nurses' working conditions, bargained directly with employees and refused an employee's right to union representation, in violation of the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act.  In an earlier charge filed with the MERC, the union alleged the health system was bargaining in bad faith and unilaterally changed working conditions for certain employees. 

More recently, on August 13 more than 1,000 nurses engaged in informational picketing at the health facility seeking public support for the union's bargaining positions.  A publicly appointed mediator met with representatives of the employer and the MNA on August 16 to facilitate further negotiations.

The employer and MNA are scheduled to continue their negotiations on August 26.

photo credit: photosmash