In one of the largest union elections in the past 20 years, nearly 10,000 Corewell Health nurses across southeast Michigan voted to unionize, marking a significant milestone in health care labor organizing.
Cheers and cheers filled Nimo's in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood Friday night (Nov. 15) as nurses gathered to celebrate a historic accomplishment.
“Who are we? Teamsters! What do we want? A contract!”
Nurses voted 4,958 to 2,957 to join the Teamsters, joining more than 57,000 other members.
For Corewell nurses, this victory is about more than just representation. It's about transforming the medical industry.
“I think this really sets a precedent for nurses across the state and across the country,” said Brandella Thomas, RN. “If we can do this, anyone can do it.”
“We knew we needed an organization with the grit and backbone to stand up to a company like Corewell Health,” said Barbara Douglas, RN.
Nurses are demanding better working conditions, fair wages, better health insurance and retirement benefits, and adequate staffing levels.
They believe that unionizing gives them the power to make meaningful change.
“We're going to unite the power of about 10,000 nurses and have one voice,” said Royal Oak nurse Sarah Johnson. “This will really give us the power to demand better health care in Michigan.”
The election came after what Teamsters general chairman Sean O'Brien described as Corewell's “most expensive and aggressive union-busting campaign” to date.
In a statement to Local 4, Corewell responded in part:
“We value all nurses and are committed to moving forward together, united in our mission to provide quality care to our patients and the communities we serve. Masu.”
Patient care remains the top priority for these newly unionized nurses.
“We want to do what's best for our patients,” Johnson said.
Douglas echoed her sentiments, saying, “We want to be able to do that with the nursing and support staff who make it possible!”
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