Unionized nurses at McLaren Lapeer (Mich.) Region, a 222-bed acute care hospital, voted for the option to strike, according to Michigan Radio.
The vote means nurses could call a strike if contract negotiations fail. It does not mean a strike will take place, as nurses would have to give the hospital proper notice.
Nurses, who are represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, have been in negotiations with the hospital for about 15 months. Workers voted down the hospital's latest contract offer, with staffing still a key sticking point.
"We rejected the hospital's 'last, best and final offer' because it doesn't protect our patients," said Tom Hall, RN and president of the McLaren Lapeer RN Staff Council/MNA. "We are not going to sit by quietly and let the quality of care erode, especially when we are asked to continually work short-staffed. Nurses take the decision to strike very seriously, and we will do whatever it takes to protect our practice and the community that we serve."
McLaren Lapeer CEO Chris Candela expressed disappointment about the strike authorization vote.
"Just four weeks ago we reached a tentative agreement in good faith with the Michigan Nurses Association to settle negotiations after more than 12 months," he said in a statement to Michigan Radio. "Union leadership assured the hospital's bargaining committee that it would recommend nurses vote to ratify the agreement … We are disappointed that the union is inaccurately representing our staffing situation to gain leverage for bargaining."
No strike date has been set, and negotiations are slated to continue July 13.
More articles on human capital and risk:
Providence hospital RNs get pay raises in new contract
Catholic Health hospital employees picket amid contract negotiations
Rhode Island Hospital reaches tentative labor deal with nurses