Teamsters Put National Agenda Above Caring for Grand Blanc

Grand Blanc, Mich.--Today the Teamsters General President didn’t once mention patients or their safety. He called the people who continue to care for our community “cowards” and “scabs" and hollered about money and growing his ranks.

He said the quiet part out loud – prioritizing the Teamsters’ agenda over the healthcare needs of the Grand Blanc community. We want to keep Henry Ford Genesys Hospital open and continue caring for 200 of our family, friends and neighbors a day.  And we will not compromise on that commitment.

Here’s what else you need to know about what Teamsters are saying.

THE TEAMSTERS CLAIM…
"We’re fighting for safe nurse-to-patient rations."

HERE’S THE TRUTH:
The contract Henry Ford Genesys Hospital is offering includes the same ratios as the last one.

HERE’S THE PART THEY’RE NOT SAYING:
Teamsters are holding out for the ability to earn premium pay by manipulating staffing levels.

• Teamsters want to earn premium pay based on the number of nurses working on a unit each day. This clause was in the contract that expired in August. Hospital data shows it led to coordinated call-offs, where Teamsters take turns calling off scheduled shifts so that those who show up can get premium pay. This isn’t fair to other team members, and it doesn’t promote ideal nurse to patient ratios.

Teamsters are demanding an attendance policy that allows them to call off work two days in a row and only be considered absent one day.

• This doesn’t promote ideal nurse to patient ratios.

THE TEAMSTERS CLAIM…
The nonprofit hospital reported an operating income of $294.2 million in 2024. 

HERE’S THE TRUTH:
Henry Ford Genesys Hospital ended 2024 $53 million in the hole. The Teamsters’ policies helped dig that hole, long before Henry Ford Health began operating Genesys Hospital.

HERE’S THE PART THEY’RE NOT SAYING:

• Non-profit earnings are reinvested in patient care, but Henry Ford Genesys Hospital hasn’t been profitable for years and is danger of closing. 
• We told Teamsters leaders the hospital is in financial jeopardy and asked them to help us keep the hospital open. 
• Teamsters’ leaders like Dan Glass and Sean O’Brien are holding out for policies that help line their own pockets and finance their national agenda by encouraging union members to call out sick nearly 6,000 times in eight months, so nurses pay more dues.
  
   

THE TEAMSTERS CLAIM…
This contract won’t help recruit nurses.

HERE’S THE TRUTH:
The hospital is proposing a contract that would pay RNs who are earlier in their career up to $4 more per hour. Most nurses in the market are early in their career.

HERE’S THE PART THEY’RE NOT SAYING:
The average annual salary for an RN in Michigan is $90,580. Under the contract Genesys Hospital is proposing 60% of RNs would make more than $100,000 per year. This doesn’t include holiday pay and overtime. 

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MEDIA INQUIRIES: mediarelations@hfhs.org