Sparrow nurses along with supporters of them picket along Michigan Avenue in Lansing on Nov. 3, 2021.
—Sparrow's local branch of the Michigan Nurses Association, the Professional Employees Council of Sparrow Hospital, or PECSH-MNA, have reached a tentative agreement with hospital administration for new three-year contracts.
The agreement comes a week and a half after PESCH-MNA announced their union voted by 96% to approve of a strike authorization. This agreement means that a strike will not happen.
In a press release from the union, some of the highlights from the new contract include:
Next week, the union will hold a series of informational meetings about the contract. A ratification vote from union membership will be held within the next two weeks, according to the statement.
In a media statement, Sparrow spokesperson John Foren said the hospital administration is grateful for the caregivers and will continue to recruit more staff.
“We will build on the momentum that began prior to these negotiations to recruit and retain top talent across our units,” Foren said.
Negotiations for the new contract have been going on since early August. The 2,200 members of the union have been working without a contract since Oct. 31.
The contract will take immediate effect when ratified, according to the PECSH-MNA statement.
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