Nurses, Radiology Technologists Strike At Rochester Hills Hospital

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Nurses and radiology technologists at Ascension Providence Rochester went on strike Monday morning over a lack of progress in contract negotiations.

The OPEIU Local 40 union, based in Macomb Township, argues its members haven't received pay raises in the last several years. The union also accused the hospital officials of locking out its nurses and radiology techs while planning to bring in replacements (strikebreakers) from an out-of-state firm.

The union believes that is unfair and illegal, and wants Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald to investigate.

"Ascension Providence Rochester registered nurses and radiology technologists have taken a stand!" the union said in a social media statement. "We stand against the corporate greed and cookie-cutter policies from St. Louis that Ascension expects all employees to quietly accept!!"

The union said its looking for a staffing matrix and staffing committee, competitive pay and retroactive pay to recruit and retain staff with an interest in the community, guaranteed paid parental leave without requiring takeaways to get it and manageable on-call assignments so that those taking care of you during your emergency function at their best.

Members of the union planned to strike through Thursday.

Hospital officials said they will temporarily replace the striking staff through Thursday, and the members who went on strike will be able to return to their scheduled shifts beginning the morning of Friday.

"Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital would prefer not to have to use these extended contracted services, particularly given the current financial challenges the healthcare industry, including our ministry, is facing," hospital officials said in a statement. "However, we must make every provision to ensure the health and safety of our patients, families, providers and associates."

Hospital officials said it presented the union with an average wage increase of more than 19 percent in the first year, as well as a nearly 15 percent increase to the maximum pay rate. Officials said the offer was the largest wage increase ever offered for the first year of a registered nurse or radiology technologist.