ANN ARBOR, Mich. – United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals/AFT 6739 (UMMAP) voted to authorize a strike after months of stalled bargaining attempts between the union and its employer, Michigan Medicine.
UMMAP, formed in the past two years, represents about 4,500 Michigan Medicine allied professionals in six different units: rehab, behavioral health, lab, medical assistants, hospital services, and advanced diagnostic and procedures technologists.
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“With 97% of our members voting in favor to strike for a fair contract, we made loud and clear that Michigan Medicine and the University of Michigan need to stand up for their workers,” said Penni Toney, UMMAP president. “Allied health professionals continue to be overlooked and disrespected, and we will not stand for this behavior any longer.”
Members have been bargaining a first contract with Michigan Medicine management since February.
The union said they then provided management with a contract settlement target date of Oct. 16.
Despite receiving the union’s economic proposal in July, Michigan Medicine delayed responding with a counteroffer by months, leaving UMMAP no choice but to authorize a strike.
“We are just asking for basic respect as longtime employees,” Toney, who is also a CT technologist and a member of the bargaining team, said. “Michigan Medicine management must recognize that they are only able to boast about the hospital’s world-class care because of the folks working tirelessly for their patients. It’s time for management to recognize that we can no longer be treated as lesser than and come to us with a real proposal.”
