In February, hospital workers from SEIU Healthcare Michigan reached an agreement with Beaumont Health over contract negotiations that had been ongoing for close to 18 months.

The new contract provided a raise for nearly a thousand union workers which included service employees, maintenance workers, housekeeping workers, dietary aides, CNAs and patient sitters.

On July 20th, working people in more than 100 cities demanded action from corporations and the government to dismantle white supremacy and to ensure the health, safety, and economic well-being of every worker. Nursing home workers in Detroit used their power to go on strike and launch protests to demand an end to structural racism and create an economy and democracy that works for all of us with no exceptions.

A majority of over 800 registered nurses at Mercy Health in Muskegon voted “yes” to be represented by SEIU Healthcare Michigan. The election was precipitated by the announced consolidation of Mercy Health Muskegon’s Hackley and Mercy Campuses into a new medical tower which was recently constructed at the Mercy Campus. Earlier this year, Ed Techs also voted to unionize and join SEIU. With the addition of both groups, SEIU now represents over 1,800 nurses, technical and service workers at Mercy Health, including ER techs, certified nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, lab techs, dietary workers and environmental services workers. With all nurses and caregivers now united together, they have a much greater voice to advocate for their patients with the administration.