Henry Ford Genesys Hospital Reaffirms Commitment to Nurses and Community Amid Ongoing Teamsters Strike

Grand Blanc, Mich. — As we approach the three-month mark of this indefinite Teamsters strike, we are confronted by the disheartening reality that the strike is simply about advancing the union’s broader agenda— not about what’s best for nurses, patients or the community.

Still, we remain as committed as ever to negotiating in good faith and reaching an agreement that supports and recognizes our nurses' unique, professional expertise and provides the safe, high-quality comprehensive health care the people of Genesee County deserve. The proposals we are offering—and have begun legally implementing—include: 

• Wage increases of up to 8.6% where 60% of nurses will have a base pay rate of more than $100,000 a year, nearly $10,000 higher than Michigan’s average RN salary of $90,580.
• A comprehensive and competitive benefits package.
• Agreed-upon staffing ratios from the Teamsters' previous contract, plus a new shared governance model that gives nurses a stronger voice in decisions that impact their practice.

Teamsters’ proposals — which continue to financially incentivize coordinated call-offs — would only preserve the status quo that has helped put Henry Ford Genesys Hospital severely in debt, with annual losses of tens of millions of dollars. That financial toll is unsustainable, and we hope to work with all stakeholders to correct it for the long-term good of the Genesee County community. 

About 80 Teamsters nurses so far have crossed the picket line; in addition, thanks to the new wage increases we implemented just weeks ago, another 80 RNs have either accepted job offers or are going through the hiring process—and hundreds more have applied. Those new team members are helping us transition away from strike staffing to a more consistent workforce of permanent Henry Ford nurses and agency staff. We remain grateful to the hundreds of Genesys Hospital team members who continue to provide safe, high-quality care for approximately 200 patients a day. 

Our next scheduled negotiation with the Teamsters is December 9.

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