Dana DeFever, Flint Journal, June 24, 2008 Flint - Voting on the contract between Genesys Regional Medical Center and its nurses has ended and ballots are now being counted. Teamsters Local 332 president Nina Bugbee estimated between 800 to 900 nurses voted. "It's a great turnout and the nurses are very engaged," she said. "And the numbers are showing that." Voting started Monday morning and ended at 9 PM today at the union hall, 1502 South Dort Highway in Flint. To ratify the contract, at least half of all eligible union members must cast a ballot, and a majority of those - more than 50 percent - must approve it. ... Votes

Voting to continue till 9 PM Tuesday. Dawn Jones, WJRT, June 23, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - Registered nurses at Genesys Health System of Grand Blanc Township were Monday learning the details of their new four-year tentative contract agreement. After weeks of negotiations and three contract extensions, the hospital and Teamsters Local 332 reached an agreement a week ago. The union represents more than 1,000 registered nurses at Genesys. Monday they were meeting with them and going over the new deal. The response from nurses is that they are very happy with the new deal. ... Genesys

Michigan Nurses Association, June 18, 2008 Okemos, MI – An Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charge has been filed with the National Labor Relations Board against War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The ULP was filed on behalf of a nurse at the Hospital, who is represented by the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA). Since the opening of the Behavioral Health Unit at the Hospital, nurses have been increasingly worried over significant issues within the unit, especially in regard to workplace safety. Informational materials such as OSHA guidelines were posted on the Union’s bulletin board by the nurse who is the subject of the ULP and were removed by management. ... ULP

Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, June 17, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - About 1,000 Genesys Regional Medical Center nurses will get their first look at a tentative contract agreement on Monday morning at Teamsters Local 332 in Flint. No details will be publicized before the nurses have a chance to see it for themselves, union officials said. But even without specifics, nurses seemed upbeat about what they'll see on Monday. "All the union stewards look pretty positive. I expect some give and take but hopefully across the board it'll be a good contract," said Rosalind Salbenblatt, who works in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit ... Genesys

Dana DeFever & Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, June 16, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - More than four months of tension and anxiety is finally over, as negotiators reached a tentative agreement Monday evening on a new contract for about 1,000 registered nurses at Genesys Regional Medical Center. Teamsters will review and vote on the tentative agreement Monday and Tuesday of next week, said Teamsters Local 332 President Nina Bugbee. "Now it's up to the nurses," she said. "The nurses have the final say of approval." Pam Galliway, chief union steward who works in the critical care area, said she's just happy that it's over. ... Tense

Two sides extend contract deadline until Wednesday. Elizabeth Shaw & Dana DeFever, Flint Journal, June 9, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - A 24-hour marathon negotiation session between Genesys Regional Medical Center nurses and administrators was expected to wrap up this morning and resume Tuesday afternoon. Negotiators met through the night and were discussing the "hard economic package" issues that have been the sticking points, such as wages, pensions, health insurance for workers and retirees, and longevity and overtime pay, said Nina Bugbee, president of Teamsters Local 332, which represents the nurses. ... Genesys

Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, June 5, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - About 100 Genesys Health System positions were eliminated Wednesday afternoon as a massive, part of a systemwide housecleaning. The sweeping reorganization began in March at the management level, with many executive and supervisory positions changed or eliminated. Then in April about a dozen biomedical technicians positions were outsourced. The cuts announced Wednesday are scattered throughout the many facilities operated by the health system ... Genesys

Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, May 28, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - Union negotiators are reaching out to Genesys Regional Medical Center physicians this week as contract talks continue for about 1,000 nurses. Teamsters Local 332 held an all-day walk in session today at Grand Blanc Comfort Inn & Suites to answer questions from physicians and others within the Genesys Health System regarding the ongoing negotiations. An evening session is being held Thursday at the same location. Both sides agreed to a 30-day contract extension after the original May 9 deadline passed with little progress at the bargaining table. ... Genesys

Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, May 15, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - Angry nurses weren't throwing sticks and stones at Genesys Regional Medical Center administrators during an outdoor protest rally Wednesday. But they did hurl a mighty big rock, in the form of International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James P. Hoffa. Hundreds gathered to hear Hoffa speak in the parking lot at Trillium Theater, just down the road from the hospital. They were there to rally for about 1,000 Genesys nurses embroiled in sometimes-bitter contract negotiations since February 21. ... Hoffa

Contracts expired last Friday night. Dawn Jones, WJRT, May 14, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - Hundreds turned out Wednesday for a labor rally in Grand Blanc Township to support nurses at Genesys Health System. The rally wrapped up just after 4 PM. The rally took place at the Trillium Theater. It was intended to show support to the registered nurses at Genesys, who are working under a 30-day contract extension. The contract extension expires June 8. Teamsters President James Hoffa was on hand, along with United Auto Workers union members and other labor organizations. ... Rally

Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, May 13, 2008 Flint - Teamsters Local 332 President Nina Bugbee issued a call to arms across all union lines with the announcement that International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James P. Hoffa will be in town Wednesday for a countywide union rally. "This is a little dot on the map for our union president, but he sees the writing on the wall," Bugbee told Genesys Regional Medical Center nurses during a meeting Monday to discuss the possibility of a strike in the wake of Friday's 30-day extension on contract negotiations. ... Nurses

Rally To Support Local 332 Nurses Negotiating With Genesys Regional Medical Center. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, May 13, 2008 Flint - Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa and Michigan Lieutenant Governor John Cherry will lead a rally Wednesday, May 14, 2008, to show community support for more than 1,000 Local 332 nurses in contract negotiations with Genesys Regional Medical Center. The nurses are fighting to maintain low nurse-to-patient ratios and to continue quality, affordable health care to patients at Genesys, which is part of Ascension Health System. ... Hoffa

Hospital says outsourcing will save money, improve care. Gabe Gutierrez, WJRT, April 28, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - Talk of a nurses strike is sweeping Genesys Regional Medical Center. Union officials say they're upset they were given no notice of a dozen layoffs last Friday at the hospital. The contract for about 1,200 registered nurses is up next week. The language is blunt. "This is union-busting at its finest right here. There's no other explanation," Teamsters Local 332 Business Agent Angela Oberman said. ... Genesys

Group urges DMC to remain neutral on its employees' rights during labor effort. Detroit News, April 25, 2008 Detroit - The Michigan Nurses Association on Thursday stepped up its campaign to try to pressure the Detroit Medical Center to sign an agreement pledging not to interfere in an election asking nurses at the health system's hospitals to unionize. Nurses supporting the organization effort and their supporters held a news conference outside the medical center to tout a settlement agreement reached between the DMC and MNA before the National Labor Relations Board, and to publicly call on the DMC to remain neutral on the unionization effort. ... Nurses

Elizabeth Shaw, Flint Journal, April 12, 2008 Grand Blanc Township - Union officials say labor tensions are building even as bargaining talks continue toward a new contract for about 1,000 registered nurses and about 400 technical workers at Genesys Regional Medical Center. Contract negotiations began in February. The current contract expires May 10. Teamsters Local 332 President Nina Bugbee said she does not believe hospital administrators are bargaining in good faith to reach a satisfactory agreement before the contract expires. ... Contract