Nurses at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens gathered Wednesday night to demand a new contract.

The nurses have been negotiating since May 2017.

They want safe staffing, which would allow nurses to work overtime instead of the hospital hiring contracted workers, and they want to protect nurses against workplace violence. The nurses said many of them have faced violence while trying to assist patients.

The nurses said they will continue to picket, but won't allow it to interfere with helping patients.

About 300 McLaren Macomb union nurses and their supporters -- including Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed -- held an informational picket Wednesday outside of their Mount Clemens hospital as they try to negotiate a new contract.

At issue at the bargaining table are a pay increase, safe staffing ratios and ways to reduce workplace violence.

Jeff Morawski, president of Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 40 at McLaren, said the hospital submitted a new proposal earlier in the day, about two weeks after the union delivered its most recent proposal. He said union leaders will study the offer and continue negotiations Monday.

Nurses at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens gathered Wednesday night to demand a new contract.

The nurses have been negotiating since May 2017.

They want safe staffing, which would allow nurses to work overtime instead of the hospital hiring contracted workers, and they want to protect nurses against workplace violence. The nurses said many of them have faced violence while trying to assist patients.

Two days after the State Legislature adjourned without acting on a bill to require nurse-staffing minimums in state hospitals and nursing homes, Governor Cuomo June 22 pledged his support for such standards and said he would have state Department of Labor officials ensure that nurses were not improperly burdened.

 Less than six weeks earlier, the New York State Nurses Association, the prime champion of the stalled legislation, had endorsed his re-election, putting yet another left-leaning union in his corner even as Democratic primary challenger Cynthia Nixon seeks to make the case that Mr. Cuomo is not a true progressive.

Three Local 459 nurses have been honored by the Lansing State Journal in its annual Salute to Nurses, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the nursing profession with a special newspaper insert and awards luncheon.

The awards were presented May 9, during the annual Nurses Week. Kyra Keusch, an RN in the intensive care unit at McLaren Greater Lansing, received the 2018 Nurses in Service to Our Country Award for her recent volunteer work in Puerto Rico. Keusch was the first Local 459 nurse to answer the call when OPEIU asked for volunteers to go to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. She took vacation time to travel with 300 union brothers and sisters to assist with disaster relief. Keusch is very active, volunteering almost every time Local 459 asks for help. She serves as a union steward for her unit and is also recording secretary on the Local 459 executive board.

Lisa Campbell, a float nurse at McLaren Greater Lansing, was awarded the 2018 Clinical Practice Award. Campbell is incredibly enthusiastic about her nursing career, even after 21 years in the field. She is chairperson of the hospital’s Professional Practice Committee, serves as a union steward and finds time to volunteer for the Nurses Honor Guard (to learn more about the OPEIU Nurses Honor Guard, visitopeiunursescouncil.org).

Jessica Newton, RN, works nights on a medical surgical floor at McLaren and received the 2018 Rising Stars Award. She understands the way to make changes in her profession is to become involved, so Newton volunteers for the Professional Practice Committee and is the chairperson of her unit council.

“We are so proud of our hardworking Local 459 nurses,” said Sharon Taylor, International vice president and Local 459 president. “It’s wonderful to see them recognized by their peers and the Greater Lansing community. We congratulate them all.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

Local 459 registered nurses, from left, Kyra Keusch, Lisa Campbell and Jessica Newton.