SEIU Healthcare Michigan members,

We are making progress toward building a strong voice for healthcare workers across Michigan. I want to keep you in the loop about some things we got done last week. 

Stewards meeting at Detroit Medical Center (DMC): I met over Zoom with SEIU Healthcare Michigan stewards who work at DMC to talk about the most important issues that DMC workers are dealing with on the job. We discussed the next steps for making our union more effective at this powerful and influential healthcare employer. I’m impressed with how determined DMC stewards are to stand up for quality healthcare and good jobs in their facilities and I’m excited about making sure this local union makes it possible to advocate for each other. 

Contract negotiations continue at Mercy, McClaren, and Beaumont Commons: Our team supported negotiations for new contract agreements at Mercy-Tech II Unit, McClaren-Oakland, and Beaumont Commons. Caregivers at Beaumont Botsford Commons reached a tentative agreement. We are preparing for negotiations at Aberdeen, Heritage Manor, Sheffield Manor, Boulevard Temple, Promedica, and Mercy (Tech II and Service Workers’ units) this week. 

Support for fellow frontline workers: I joined an SEIU Healthcare Michigan delegation that stood with SEIU Local 1 building cleaners and janitors as they rallied in downtown Detroit for a good contract. Like healthcare workers, building service workers can’t work from home. They also had to put their health and safety at risk to keep Detroit’s offices, schools, and airport going throughout the pandemic. We’re proud to support their fight for jobs that create a better Detroit for every family, in every neighborhood. 

We are also continuing to make progress in reorganizing the administration, finances, and operations of the local union. If you have any questions, please email Information@seiuhealthcaremi.org or call deputy trustee Jawair Culbreath at 313-985-1246.

Now more than ever, healthcare workers need to stick together to make sure that all caregivers are respected, protected, and paid fairly, no matter what role you play in providing patient care and no matter what zip code you live in. I’m confident that this trusteeship process is putting SEIU Healthcare Michigan on track to build power to win that better future. 

In Unity,

Dian Palmer, Trustee SEIU Healthcare Michigan