ANN ARBOR – As of Tuesday, September 17, United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals/AFT 6739 (UMMAP) has filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission against Michigan Medicine/University of Michigan, alleging that the hospital system repeatedly engaged in bad faith bargaining and has illegally censored employee speech in a bid to crack down on dissent.
UMMAP President Penni Toney, a CT technologist, stated: “The new Dress and Appearance guidelines issued by Michigan Medicine violate our protected rights as unionized employees. We see this as a way to intimidate and weaken our membership by stopping protected activities while in the middle of a contract campaign.”
The ULP charge details a series of actions by Michigan Medicine Labor Relations Director Hakim Berry, banning union speech in the hospital system and delaying bargaining. According to the charge, Berry threatened to stop contract bargaining in June if the union filed a ULP over his refusal to turn over bargaining-related information. In August, Berry also threatened to stop bargaining if UMMAP members didn’t stop distributing leaflets outside of Michigan Medicine facilities.
Berry threatened to discipline employees for leafleting, and Michigan Medicine managers have repeatedly threatened UMMAP members for wearing union-related buttons. This came after the university abruptly changed the dress and appearance guidelines for Michigan Medicine staff, banning employees from discussing contract bargaining at work facilities, along with prohibitions on leafleting and buttons with union slogans.
Some lab managers, for instance, told employees they would be disciplined if they discussed the union while in the lab, and ordered staff to take off “a textless sticker that contained a picture of a cartoon pizza making a peace sign with its finger,” as it could be connected to the union.
UMMAP, formed in the past 18 months, represents about 4,500 Michigan Medicine allied professionals in six different units: Rehab, Behavioral Health, Lab, Medical Assistants, Hospital Services and Advanced Diagnostic and Procedures Technologists. Members have been bargaining a first contract with Michigan Medicine management since February. The union has provided management with a contract settlement target date of October 16. Despite receiving the union’s economic proposal in July, Michigan Medicine still has not countered.
