Our sibling union the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have announced they will strike on Tuesday, October 15th if they are unable to reach a fair agreement with management. This means that SEIU members who are participating in the strike will not show up to work next Tuesday.
The UMMAP Executive Board supports our sibling union in exercising their moral right and imperative to organize a work stoppage to secure fair and just compensation.
UMMAP members will fully, faithfully, and properly perform their duties during this period. UMMAP members, who are off duty, are encouraged to exercise their constitutional right of free speech and join in any demonstrations or picketing. UMMAP will not be on strike next Tuesday. Do not leave your job to join the picket line.
Our members should not be asked to perform duties outside the scope of their employment in order to cover for striking employees. If directed to perform duties normally performed by striking employees, the UMMAP member should follow the directive and then immediately contact UMMAP at office@ummap6739.org.
Proactively, the UMMAP Board sent a letter to hospital management and the UM Board of Regents asking that in the event of a strike all non-essential procedures and electives be canceled and that emergencies be diverted to other local health systems. A day without SEIU team members should not be treated as “business as usual” and the hope is that Michigan Medicine will take that advice.
Should they not, we urge our members to not volunteer to take on work normally performed by striking employees, especially if it is not one of your normal functions and if there is not an immediate patient care need. We also urge all members to not pick up additional shifts to cover for striking employees. Stand in solidarity with your SEIU siblings and join them on the picket line when you are not at work!
If a UMMAP member is ordered to take work normally performed by a striking employee, our advice is to follow the directive and perform the work. As soon as possible during or after, contact UMMAP at office@ummap6739.org.
In Solidarity,
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) – Hospital Services Unit Chair