Ascension Borgess nurses picket for safe staffing

Kalamazoo, Mich. — Over 100 nurses held a rally and informational picket Wednesday at Ascension Borgess Hospital to call for a fair contract that guarantees safe staffing and puts patients before profit, they said.

“We are picketing because we know that safe staffing saves lives,” said Jamie Brown, President of the Michigan Nurses Association and registered nurse at Borgess Hospital. “We know that our working conditions impact our patients. We are using our collective voice to say that patients must always come first at our hospital.”

Nurses are asking for guaranteed safe staffing language in their contract.

Ascension Borgess Hospital Executives released a statement acknowledging the picket.

“We respect the right of Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) to hold an informational picket at Ascension Borgess Hospital,” the statement read. “As with any event of this kind, the safety and security of our associates, patients, families, visitors and picketers is our first priority.”

Nurses expressed distrust with the hospital, citing its recent layoffs of healthcare workers and relatively high profit margins.

“We want what is best for nurses, patients, and our community,” said Kathleen Hillman, RN. “We won’t back down when it comes to doing what is right.”

The picketing is not a stop or a strike, nurses said. All participants are attending outside of their work hours.