UPDATE: Nurses, Duke LifePoint reach tentative agreement

UPDATE: Friday, May 25th 4:45 p.m.

Members of the UPHS Marquette Staff Council/MNA will hold membership meetings and a ratification vote on their tentative agreement with Duke LifePoint on Thursday, May 31st at Northern Michigan University in the University Center’s Charcoal Room.

Marquette nurses are encouraged to make their voice and their vote count at meetings scheduled for 8:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

A new contract will not take effect until it is ratified democratically by a majority of members.

MARQUETTE — During a marathon negotiating session that started on Thursday and ended early Friday morning, the UPHS – Marquette nurses and Duke LifePoint announced that they have reached an agreement in principle on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.

“This is a win for our entire U.P. community, and we could not have come this far without strong community support. I want to thank all of our friends, family members, and neighbor who continue to support us,” said Scott Balko, Operating Room RN and President of the UPHS Marquette Staff Council/MNA, in a statement.

Details of the tentative agreement will not be disclosed until it is presented at ratification meetings, where it will be voted on by union members. These meetings will be scheduled as soon as possible.

The two parties have been in contract negotiations since April 18th, 2017. A two-month contract extension expired on July 28th of that year, and the UPHS – Marquette nurses have been working without a contract since.