Okemos, MI – US District Court Judge Anna Diggs Taylor ruled that Registered Nurses at Bixby Medical Center in Adrian and Herrick Memorial Hospital in Tecumseh, both part of the Lenawee Health Alliance, cannot have their health
care expenses increased without opening negotiations on the topic.
Judge Taylor upheld an arbitrator’s award in a case involving the Lenawee Health Alliance and the registered nurses represented by the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA).
On October 30, 2002, an arbitrator decided in favor of the Michigan Nurses Association saying that Lenawee Health Alliance could not make unilateral change in health insurance benefits. The arbitrator decided that the Alliance
was obligated to notify and negotiate with MNA over changes in the health insurance and that no changes were to be made unless they were negotiated.
The Alliance filed a complaint with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan seeking to vacate the arbitration award. The parties filed competing motions for summary judgment and oral arguments were heard on September 29, 2003.
“The Alliance can not violate the contract by making unilateral changes to the negotiated benefits. The RNs need to know that their employer will follow the binding contract they have agreed to,” said Anita Szczepanski, MNA Labor
Attorney.
Contact: Anita Szczepanski, MNA Labor Attorney
517/349-5640, ext. 31 or (cell) 517/927-7710
anita.szczepanski@minurses.org
Or Carol Feuss
Director of Communication and Integrated Marketing
Michigan Nurses Association
517/349-5640, ext. 39 or (cell) 517/230-4086
carol.feuss@minurses.org
Comments are closed