Two labor unions are fighting for their first collective bargaining agreements with the University of Michigan’s Michigan Medicine.
Workers held an informational picket outside University Hospital last week, to protest what they say is U of M’s ongoing refusal to agree to what they call fair contracts that would address issues of understaffing and low pay.
United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals , and Service Employees International Union , represent about seven thousand workers in the state.
Kate Robbins is a physical therapist and the treasurer of United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals local.
“When COVID hit, a lot of people retired from medicine,” said Robbins. “And so, we are asked to do more with less, and it’s starting to really burn out all of the employees in the hospital.”
University of Michigan Health responded in a statement saying, in part, they “look forward to continuing collaborative discussions with union members and employee groups working in a shared goal to provide the best care possible for their patients.”