The union has kept nurses on the job for five weeks since the expiration of their previous deal July 1, a clear signal that the union is collaborating with management to work out a sellout deal.
Nurses and hospital employees have told the WSWS <em>Health Care Workers Newsletter</em> that they want a unified mass action against Michigan Medicine and against the efforts of the MNA-UMPNC to isolate and betray the nurses’ contract fight.
The laws in Michigan declaring strikes by public employees illegal raise fundamental political issues in the struggle of nurses at Michigan Medicine, who have been working without a contract since June 30.
These organizations seek to buttress the union bureaucrats who block strike action and promote the illusion that nurses can rely on the Democratic Party to put an end to intolerable working conditions.
While the rally and informational picketing on Saturday demonstrated the strength and determination of nurses to win their contract fight with Michigan Medicine, the MNA-UMPNC is preparing a sellout agreement behind closed doors with hospital management.