Our morning began with powerful statements and testimonies from UMMAP members and allies.  We began by sharing basic facts about pregnancy loss and its impact on expecting parents emotionally and physically, followed by deeply moving testimonials from members in support of our bereavement leave proposal.  As we listened to our union siblings’ stories, many of us recognized the feelings of trauma, grief, pain, and shame, and the struggle to keep caring for patients while coping with loss resonated throughout the room. Yet on the other side of the table, management sat stone-faced and indifferent, contrasting drastically with the sobbing that could be heard from our side of the room.

While UMMAP members displayed their loss and trauma in a valiant attempt to convince management of the necessity of this new contract, the overall theme of our presentation to management was; “ Three days is a start and the bare minimum.  It’s the right and compassionate thing to do.”

Statements of support, basic facts and research…

…regarding pregnancy loss were presented by member experts and allies:

UMMAP member and Clinical Social Worker, Elizabeth Gregory, who specializes in Perinatal Palliative Care and Loss, read two statements from Dr. Kayla Sheehan the other from Dr. Irv Leon who stated:   

“To best care for others, we need to consider how we care for our own. Providing employees with a three day bereavement leave for perinatal loss is not just the right thing to do, it also mitigates potential longer term consequences and complications of the loss.” ~ Dr. Kayla Sheehan

“…when a health care provider suffers a reproductive loss.. “they” need time to recover which includes only gradually returning to the hospital settings, especially so if working with pregnant people or babies. This deters a re-traumatization being triggered by returning to work too soon and re-exposure to traumatizing stimuli.” ~ Dr. Irv Leon 

HOA Executive Director, Dominic Barbato, read HOA’s letter in support of our bereavement proposal. 

“Pregnancy loss is absolutely devastating and those who experience it often suffer in silence with overwhelming grief. It is unconscionable to us that where to provide such leave to UMMAP employees is even up for a debate…”

UMMAP member and Sonographer at the Center for Reproductive Care, Haley Bohmer, wrote a compassionate letter read by UMMAP member and Steward and Clinical Social Worker:

“…We are more than numbers to staff units. Each of us have hearts and souls and we have the opportunity to extend our hearts and show the women working at Michigan Medicine that our patients and coworkers deserve the dignity of recognizing miscarriage as a bereavement event. ”

Powerful and Moving Testimonials

Several members—from two women to a lesbian couple to a transgender member— shared their painful experiences with pregnancy loss.  Our presentation culminated with our President, Penni Toney, sharing her own personal story.  

Each person discussed the struggle to keep up with their workload because they were not ready emotionally and physically to return to work.  Maintaining their focus was an exhausting uphill battle, creating anxiety over job security at an already stressful and difficult time. 

The most powerful part of our day was our internal member debrief after our morning session.  Several members who were in the room and not at the bargaining table shared their own experiences around pregnancy loss.  One read a poem and another stated they had felt alone in their grief but now, after that bargaining session, found that there is a community of folks who understand and support them.  

There were several of you who shared your stories through our testimonial form.  Many of us know and empathize with your struggles, and although the bravery you showed in sharing your stories shouldn’t be necessary to gain a fair contract, your stories make a difference to your fellow members.  You are not alone, and we understand the courage it takes to share these incredibly painful experiences.  

Towards the end of the day, we met one more time with management.  Though we didn’t reach any tentative agreements, we found management to be far more engaged and candid with us. The road to a contract is long and winding, but the solidarity shared in the bargaining room amongst members affected everyone, even, apparently, management.  

Upcoming Bargaining Sessions

We will be meeting with management again this coming Wednesday, June 5th.  To observe our upcoming negotiation sessions, follow this link:  UMMAP Bargaining RSVP.  

UMMAP Executive Board

• Penni Toney (CT Technologist) – President
• Cheryl Bodmer (Surgical Technologist) – Vice President
• Amanda Mazzocco (CT Technologist) – Secretary
• Kate Robbins (Physical Therapist) – Treasurer
• Jennifer Kempfer (CT Technologist) – ADEPT Unit Chair
• Courtney Iwanicki (Registered Dietitian) – Behavioral Health Unit Chair
• Kelishia Burks (Medical Assistant Intermediate) – Medical Assistant Unit Chair
• Greg Mannarelli (Audiologist) – Rehabilitation Unit Chair
• Rodney Barber (Histotechnologist) – Laboratory Unit Chair
• Sarah Wilkin (Pharmacy Technician Intermediate) Non-Bargained For Employee Unit Chair