• The Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association’s contract ended Oct. 30, and union leaders are now back at the bargaining table.
• Jeff Breslin, president of PECSH-MNA, says they are demanding better wages, better health care benefits and better safety within the hospital
• On Tuesday, PECSH-MNA protested in front of UM Health Sparrow and in the attached story I spoke with Breslin about what comes next.

(The following is a transcript of the full broadcast story)

Caregivers here at UM Health Sparrow are advocating for what they say is a fair contract.

I’m your neighborhood reporter, Asya Lawrence, here with a look at what the nurses are asking and Sparrow’s response.

“I ended up becoming a registered nurse so I could have a profession where I can help people,” said Jeff Breslin, president of PECSH-MNA.

May will mark Jeff Breslin’s 30th year as a registered nurse.

But he says in recent years, things haven’t been easy for UM Health Sparrow caregivers.

“We’re losing staff. There’s a staffing crisis inside and it’s no different than a lot of other hospitals around, it’s about the ability to attract people,” he said.

This week, Breslin, along with other nurses and medical professionals, protested outside the hospital, hoping to send a message to Sparrow executives ahead of negotiations.

“The main issues we are working on are salaries, health benefits and promoting safety within the hospital,” Jeff said.

Local caregivers say that with the $130 million invested in UM Health facilities in our neighborhoods, they believe their contracts should be improved as well.

Both sides went to the negotiating table on Wednesday and a statement from UM Health Sparrow leaders said:

“We understand the urgency and importance of a contract that meets everyone’s needs, while guaranteeing our patients the best possible care. We hope to emerge from these negotiations with a stronger relationship and a collective commitment to building a better future for our health. system and our community.

State and federal mediators have joined these discussions which are scheduled throughout November, and Sparrow caregivers will continue to work through these negotiations in hopes of reaching common ground.

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