Union members voted overwhelmingly to approve 3-year deal

LANSING – Nurses and healthcare professionals at the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow voted overwhelmingly this week to approve a contract with the employer, with 95 percent of participating members voting “yes.”

Members of the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PECSH-MNA) voted over four days starting Monday. The results were tallied this afternoon (Thursday). The contract runs through Oct. 30, 2027.

The two sides reached an agreement in principle Jan. 14 after negotiating since August.

PECSH-MNA represents registered nurses and healthcare professionals in nearly 60 categories at UMH-Sparrow, for a total of about 2,000 members.

“We’re really proud that we as a union stood strong to get what nurses and healthcare professionals at Sparrow need and deserve,” said Leah Rasch, RN and co-chair of the elected PECSH-MNA bargaining team. “This is one of the best contracts anyone can remember at our hospital. A great agreement for our members is a win for all of us, because it will help make sure Sparrow can attract and keep enough nurses and health care workers to take excellent care of our community.”

Highlights of the contract include:

• Competitive wage increases, with most members receiving between a 20% and 32% raise during the term of the agreement.
• Large increases in differentials (extra hourly pay) including the night shift, evening shift, and weekends.
• Guaranteed healthcare plan equal or better to the union plan the employer is ending.
• Permanent decrease in the cost of members’ premium contribution to Blue Cross Blue Shield starting in 2026.
• New language guaranteeing no permanent replacement of positions with subcontractors (agency) and maintenance of open postings for these positions.
• Extending COVID protections for members.
• Increased benefits for employees injured by workplace violence.
• Vacation accrual for salaried members on paid-out comp time.
• Ratification bonus.

The contract expired Oct. 30. The ratification averts a 5-day strike that had been planned to start Jan. 20.

This is the first contract that PECSH-MNA has negotiated since University of Michigan Health bought Sparrow in 2023.

The Michigan Nurses Association, which includes the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital (PECSH-MNA), is the largest union and professional association for registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan. PECSH-MNA represents nurses and professionals in nearly 60 other job categories. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and AFL-CIO.

Contact: Dawn Kettinger: 517-721-9688