UPDATE: Due to the severe snowstorm, the rally has been cancelled.
Event foreshadows contract negotiations for about 600 workers as LifePoint tries to gut health insurance
MARQUETTE – UPHS-Marquette registered nurses and technologists will rally at Harlow Park on Thursday to show solidarity as they prepare to enter contract negotiations, with Lifepoint already trying to cut their health insurance and increase their costs.
The two unions are part of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA), consisting of about 600 professionals combined. Lifepoint recently violated the Marquette Ancillary Staff and Technologists (MAST)’s contract by implementing health insurance that costs employees more and offers less coverage without proper notice, just before the open enrollment period.
MAST members believe that had there been the required opportunity to discuss the new plan, changes could have been made to improve the coverage. For example, the new plan covers only two full-time dentists in Marquette County.
“It’s appalling that a multibillion-dollar company is trying to gut its employees’ health care – especially for those of us in that very field,” said Josh Bowman, MLS (ASCP), a medical laboratory scientist at the hospital, president of MAST and an MNA board member. “By violating our contract and forcing this plan on us, Lifepoint executives in Tennessee have shown how little they respect the people who work at our hospital. We are sending a strong message that we won’t stand for this kind of treatment and we won’t accept any contract concessions.”
MAST has filed a union grievance against Lifepoint asking for the current plan to be reinstated. Lifepoint similarly tried to impose an inferior, costlier plan on the members of the RN Staff Council at UPHS-Marquette, but ultimately agreed to keep the same plan for now.
“We are united with the techs in putting Lifepoint on notice that our unions will not stand for cuts in our health care and we will not accept other cuts in contract negotiations either,” said Christina Hanson, RN, president of the RN Staff Council. “We are proud to provide care for our communities, and at the same time we need good, affordable health care for ourselves and our families in order to do our jobs. If Lifepoint’s actions so far are a sign of things to come in contract negotiations, they better realize that we will not be the pushovers they apparently hope for.”
Contract negotiations typically start months before expiration. MAST’s contract expires on Sept. 8, 2025; the nurses’ contract expires May 31, 2025.
WHAT: MNA solidarity rally
WHO: UPHS-Marquette registered nurses and technologists
WHEN: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5; member leaders speak at 4 p.m.
WHERE: Harlow Park, 100 W. Washington St., Marquette
VISUALS: Nurses and technologists in red chanting, holding signs
The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest union and professional association for registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and AFL-CIO.
Contact: Dawn Kettinger: 517-721-9688