LANSING – Nurses and healthcare professionals at the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow have voted overwhelmingly – at 98.7 percent “yes” – to give their elected bargaining team the ability to call a strike if necessary. If a strike were called, the union would give the hospital 10-day notice so it could prepare.

The approximately 2,000 members of the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PECSH-MNA) have been working without a contract since it expired Oct. 30. In more than 300 hours of negotiations since August, the employer has failed to offer competitive wages, health care without concessions, and measures to keep caregivers, patients and visitors safe.

“The overwhelming ‘yes’ vote sends a clear message to Sparrow executives that we are fed up with their disrespect and willing to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract,” said Jeff Breslin, RN, president of PECSH-MNA. “We have to get this contract right, because it’s bigger than us – it’s about the future of patient care in mid-Michigan. How will our area’s largest hospital, our only Level 1 Trauma Center, have enough skilled nurses and healthcare professionals to provide quality care for our community? Sparrow won’t be able to recruit and retain high-quality RNs and healthcare professionals for our patients if we accept what executives are trying to push on us.”

The strike authorization vote took place at various locations over 8 days, starting Dec. 4 and concluding today, to make sure everyone had the opportunity to cast a ballot. 98.7 percent of the members who voted cast a “yes” ballot.

This is the first contract that PECSH-MNA has negotiated since University of Michigan Health bought Sparrow for an undisclosed amount in 2023. U of M Health-Sparrow announced plans this year to build a $97 million psychiatric hospital in Lansing and has broken ground on a $32 million health center near Grand Ledge. This is on top of nearly $1 billion U of M Health is spending on a new hospital on its Ann Arbor campus.

“I voted yes, like the overwhelming majority of my colleagues, because I’m sick of Sparrow executives not taking us seriously and refusing to do what’s right,” said Destinee Griffin, RN, a labor and delivery nurse. “Initially, I was hopeful and optimistic that U of M would bring the changes we desperately need here at Sparrow. It’s disappointing that so far, I’ve seen few, if any, changes at the bedside – on top of how poorly the employer has handled our contract negotiations. Instead of throwing money around on new signs and shirts – and facilities they won’t be able to staff – they should be investing in the frontline professionals who take care of people day in and day out.”

At this point, negotiations are scheduled to continue through Dec. 19.

The Michigan Nurses Association, which includes the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital (PECSH-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.