Michigan Medicine health care workers win union recognition

More than 2,300 University of Michigan Medicine health care workers have won union recognition after a successful card check earlier this month.

The 2,335 employees will join SEIU Healthcare Michigan, along with 283 Michigan Medicine registered respiratory therapists and techs who previously joined the union last July and are currently bargaining for their first contract. The card check, which occurred March 18, is a process under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) that allows employers to voluntarily waive the secret ballot process and recognize the union if more than 50% of the employees sign authorization cards. 

“As a patient service associate, we play a vital part in our patient’s recovery. We make sure patients have a positive first interaction with the University of Michigan health system.” said Willie Griggs, patient service associate at Mott Women and Children’s Hospital. “I grew up in a union family in the auto industry and I saw the benefits and protections it provided them. A union at the University of Michigan gives us a voice to express our concerns and be heard in the workplace.”

A spokesperson for Michigan Medicine declined to comment for this story.

The newly-organized workers are: patient care techs, phlebotomists and phlebotomist specialists, unit clerks, unit hosts, patient service assistants, patient services intermediate, and patient services associates and patient services senior.

According to a release from SEIU Healthcare Michigan, while about 80% of Michigan Medicine workers already belong to a union, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the disparity on issues such as benefits, raises and working conditions between those in a union and those who weren’t. 

“During the pandemic, the University took away retirement benefits. Non-unionized workers did not receive a raise while our union colleagues did,” said Em Mayhew, inpatient unit clerk at the University Hospital. “They also cut costs on smaller things that affect patients like limiting the salt and pepper packets on food trays. A union would be our voice to fight for better pay, and benefits, and preserve the quality care our patients deserve.”

SEIU Healthcare Michigan, which currently represents more than 17,000 hospital and long-term care workers across the state, says it will continue to organize more than 2,000 additional Michigan Medicine workers including call center representatives, administrative assistants, associates, seniors and specialists, financial counselors, medical billing staff, and other patient service employees.