Gratiot Nurses Ratify Contract With Expanded Patient Safety Protections

(Alma, MI) – Registered nurses at MidMichigan Medical Center – Gratiot overwhelmingly ratified a new contract Thursday night. The contract includes improved language regarding staffing levels that will keep patients safer as well as raises to achieve parity for Gratiot RNs with other nurses in the MidMichigan Health system. The contract takes effect immediately and goes until November 2022.

“We are proud of this contract because we believe it will help protect our patients, and our patients are our top priority,” said Shenan Shinabarger, RN, president of the local union, an affiliate of the Michigan Nurses Association. “We have shown the corporate executives of the MidMichigan Health system that Gratiot nurses are union strong and that we’re not afraid to fight for what is right.”

The contract ratification comes after nearly 200 nurses and community supporters held an informational picket outside the hospital in December. One of the key issues at the bargaining table was nurses receiving equal compensation with other hospitals in the same health system. The provisions the Gratiot nurses won in this contract – including an immediate 6% raise coupled with additional raises in future years – will enable them to achieve this parity.

“This contract will allow us to recruit and retain quality RNs,” said Shinabarger. “It will improve the lives of both nurses and our patients. We want to thank our community from the bottom of our hearts for their strong support.”

The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is the largest, most effective union for RNs across the state. As the voice for all registered nurses in Michigan, MNA advocates for nurses and their patients at the Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table.

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Contact: Amelia Dornbush; 517-896-7478

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