9600 Corewell Nurses Vote YES To Join The Teamsters Union

Update 11/14/24

Corewell Health East nurses, part of Michigan’s largest health system, have voted to join the Brotherhood of Teamsters in a move aimed at enhancing their representation and working conditions. The results, announced following a National Labor Relations Board election, reflect the growing momentum among healthcare workers seeking collective bargaining rights.

Key Facts

• Union Vote Outcome: Corewell Health East nurses have voted for representation by the Brotherhood of Teamsters.
• Election Oversight: Ballots were counted in an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.
• Purpose of Unionization: Nurses supporting unionization aim to gain a stronger voice and improve work conditions.

Corewell Health released a statement acknowledging the vote, said Mark Geary, Sr. Director of Communications.

"Corewell Health nurses in Southeast Michigan voted to be represented by the Brotherhood of Teamsters for the purposes of collective bargaining. The results are not yet certified. We value all our nurses and are committed to moving forward together, united by our mission to provide high-quality care to our patients and the communities we serve," Mark Geary, Sr. Director of Communications, Corewell Health, said in a statement. 

Original article 11/12/24

In a significant development for the healthcare industry, over 9,600 nurses from Corewell Health East hospitals are participating in a crucial vote that could lead to one of the largest unionization efforts in recent years. From November 12-14, nurses will decide whether to join the Teamsters Union, a move that could potentially reshape the landscape of healthcare labor relations in Michigan. Teamsters is the largest private-sector union in the United States. 

A Push for Better Working Conditions and Patient Care

The nurses, spread across nine Corewell Health East hospitals in the metro Detroit area, are advocating for improvements in several key areas. Their primary concerns include better working conditions, fair compensation, and enhanced patient care standards. Many nurses have expressed frustration over the increasing demands placed on them, often feeling compelled to do more with fewer resources.

@corewellunited We’re almost to the finish line! Together, we are standing up for safer staffing, fair wages, and a stronger healthcare system—for all of us. #VoteTeamstersYes #UnionStrong #corewellunited #nursesfornurses #nurse #union #nursesinspirenurses @thenursiestnurse @D.Teamster @TheNurseErica ♬ Bravery, determination, sadness, orchestra, 10 minutes(1001212) - 8.864

Sarah Johnson, a nurse at Beaumont Hospital, told WXYZ Detroit: “We’re just sick of doing more with less. Enough is enough, we deserve better and our patients deserve better.”

Another nurse, Natalie Lunsford, a nurse at Corewell Health’s Wayne Hospital, told the same news outlet: “My No. 1 thing is better health care. Corewell Health owns Priority Health insurance and we have one of the worst plans that they offer. My number two thing is nurse-patient ratios. The unit I work on is a five-to-one, so five patients to one nurse. It’s a cardiac unit, it should really only be three to one.”

Rebecca Smola, RN at Corewell Health Dearborn, told FOX 2 Detroit: "We thought once we were done with Covid, because of the sacrifice and doing a lot of things that put us and our families at risk, that we’d be more recognized. And some things have gotten worse and that was kind of the time when I felt a union was appropriate.”

The Quest for "Strength in Numbers"

Johnson emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing these concerns. The concept of "strength in numbers" resonates with many of her colleagues who believe that unionization could provide a more powerful platform to negotiate for better conditions.

This sentiment reflects a growing trend in the healthcare sector, where workers are increasingly turning to unions to advocate for their rights and improve their working environments. The Corewell Health nurses' vote represents one of the largest groups of healthcare professionals considering unionization in the past five years, underscoring the significance of this movement.

Corewell Health's Stance and the Road Ahead

In response to the unionization efforts, a Corewell Health representative said,

“We respect unions. However, we believe the majority of our nurses do not want a union. We also believe our ability to provide high quality care to our patients and maintain a positive work environment is best achieved through a direct working relationship with our nurses.”

The outcome of this vote, set to be announced on Friday, will have far-reaching implications. If successful, it would not only mark a significant victory for the Teamsters Union but could also inspire similar movements in other healthcare institutions across the country.

The Broader Context of Healthcare Unionization

This unionization effort at Corewell Health is part of a larger trend in the healthcare industry. In recent years, there has been a noticeable uptick in unionization attempts among healthcare workers, particularly nurses. These movements are often driven by concerns over staffing levels, workplace safety, and the overall quality of patient care.

The COVID-19 pandemic further amplified these issues, exposing and exacerbating existing problems within the healthcare system. Many nurses and other healthcare professionals have found themselves at the forefront of crisis response, often working under challenging and sometimes dangerous conditions.

In fact, just today, a one-day strike was averted at another Michigan Hospital System, University of Michigan Health. 4,500 workers agreed to a "memorandum of understanding" with the United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals AFT Local 6730, also known as UMMAP.

Potential Impacts of Unionization

If the Corewell Health nurses vote to unionize, it could lead to significant changes in their working conditions. Unionized nurses often have more leverage in negotiating contracts that address issues such as staffing ratios, overtime policies, and workplace safety measures. Additionally, union representation can provide nurses with a stronger voice in decisions that affect their day-to-day work and the quality of care they provide.

However, the process of unionization and subsequent contract negotiations can be complex and sometimes contentious. It often requires careful balancing of the interests of healthcare workers, hospital administration, and ultimately, the patients they serve.