ANN ARBOR, Michigan. – Members of United Michigan Allied Professionals/AFT 6739 (UMMAP) are set to strike at Michigan Medicine on Tuesday following the the union and the health system failed to reach a new contract.

Plans to strike starting Nov. 12 come after 97 percent of UMMAP workers voted in favor of a strike last month, following months of negotiations, according to a union statement.

The union represents 4,500 Michigan Medicine workers across six units, including rehabilitation, behavioral health, laboratory, physician assistants, hospital services and advanced diagnostic and procedural technologists.

“We were prepared to negotiate in good faith with our employer, but our fundamental demands for fair wages and respect in the workplace continue to be ignored,” said UMMAP President, CT Technologist and Member Penni Toney. of the negotiating team. “We will not accept that paramedical professionals continue to be neglected and disrespected while management contacts us without serious proposals. Enough is enough.

Members of UMMAP, created over the past two years, have been negotiating a first contract with Michigan Medicine since February.

Health system management received the union’s proposal in July, but delayed responding by several months.

“No one wants to strike, but we will do everything we can to protect the well-being of Michigan Medicine’s hardworking employees who are dedicated to their profession and their patients,” Toney said. “We are ready to hear real proposals from management regarding a new contract, but in the meantime, we will put our jobs on the line and fight for our dignity as workers.”