ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Members of the United Michigan Allied Professionals/AFT 6739 (UMMAP) and Michigan Medicine have reached an memorandum of understanding to avoid a strike that had been planned to begin Tuesday.
This memorandum cancels the planned strike and creates “a framework for the two negotiating teams to achieve a tentative agreement over the next two weeks.”
“This critical step reflects both UMMAP and U-M Health’s dedication to caring for our patients and serving our community. We will continue our collaborative efforts to reach a tentative agreement that reflects how highly we value the incredible care provided by our team members represented by UMMAP,” said Jovita Thomas-Williams, chief human resources officer for Michigan Medicine.
UMMAP President Penni Toney also said, “The UMMAP bargaining team is committed to working collaboratively with the U-M Health team to ensure that a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement is reached. Our members are the embodiment of the Michigan Difference and we remain committed to our patients and community by continuing to provide outstanding patient care that our patients deserve.”
This update comes after UMMAP had planned to strike this week after 97% of workers voted to authorize a strike last month, following months of bargaining, according to a release from the union.
The union represents 4,500 Michigan Medicine workers in six units, including rehab, behavioral health, lab, medical assistants, hospital services, and advanced diagnostic and procedures technologists.
“We have been ready to bargain in good faith with our employer, but our basic demands for fair salaries and respect in the workplace continue to get ignored,” said Penni Toney, UMMAP president, CT technologist and a member of the bargaining team, when they had previously announced the strike. “We will not accept the fact that allied health professionals continue to be overlooked and disrespected while management comes to us without serious proposals. Enough is enough.”
Members of UMMAP, which was formed in the last two years, have been bargaining a first contract with Michigan Medicine since February.
Management at the health care system had received the union’s proposal in July but delayed responding by months, according to the union.
