This week, both negotiating teams spent majority of the bargaining sessions in separate caucuses with their own team, reviewing proposals received from the other team and preparing counterproposals. During the first week of negotiations, Michigan Medicine provided MNA/UMPNC with a comprehensive proposal that included proposals on compensation, staffing and scheduling, overtime, and attendance, among others.

The amount of information provided in the University’s comprehensive proposal was substantial, and MNA/UMPNC has continued to review all of the proposals. In the meantime, MNA/UMPNC has also expressed their desire to eliminate mandatory overtime, negotiate increases to compensation, and as well as optimize the designated float system and utilize dual-unit arrangements in a limited fashion.

We are interested in discussing all proposals further and are looking to engage in problem-solving discussions with MNA/UMPNC on a number of key issues, including staffing and scheduling, use of mandatory overtime, and others. When overtime is needed, Michigan Medicine prefers to first seek volunteers; however, we also have a responsibility to ensure that we have the staff needed to safely care for our patients.

We hope to have more opportunity in the coming weeks to engage with MNA/UMPNC in problem-solving activities in support of reaching a new collective bargaining agreement.