Sparrow nurses are cancelling a planned strike after their union representatives and administrators at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow reached a preliminary contract agreement.
About 2,000 nurses and caregivers with the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association intended to launch a 5-day strike starting January 20 after negotiations stalled.
Bargaining began in August and continued through the end of October when the union members' contract expired. In December, they voted overwhelmingly in favor of allowing their representatives to call a strike if needed.
After the strike was announced on January 7, additional negotiating days were set.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that was built on the strength and solidarity of our union, as well as overwhelming community support,” said Dexter Baker, a registered nurse and co-chair of the elected PECSH-MNA bargaining team, in a statement.
“Our fellow members have been very passionate about their priorities throughout these months of bargaining. Our union is a democracy, and we look forward to having our fellow members vote on whether to accept this contract agreement, which we wholeheartedly recommend.”
The agreement includes raises for most members, decreases in premiums paid to health care plans and extending COVID protections for the health care workers.
"We are grateful to both bargaining teams, who have worked tirelessly since August to reach an agreement that best supports our nurses and health care professionals and our mission to provide patients with safe, quality care," a statement from UM Health-Sparrow said after the announcement.
"We are confident this agreement will help to attract and retain top talent across our units and ensure leading wages and benefits for our team members.
Union members will now need to vote to ratify the contract. This is the first contract PECSH-MNA has negotiated with UM Health since it acquired Sparrow in a merger in 2023.