[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHERN MICHIGAN HOSPITAL NURSES STRIKE

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, November 20, 2004

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 2-year anniversary of 
the strike of the nurses at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, MI, 
which began on November 14, 2002. This strike is now the longest 
nurses' strike in our nation's history.
  Sadly, today many of these nurses have to travel to different 
communities to work. This strike has impacted local health care, and 
left a community divided. It needs to be resolved soon. This strike is 
even costing the hospital. NMH had an operating loss of over $11 
million dollars, largely because of $14 million spent on replacement 
nurses.
  Over the past 2 years, the hospital administration has shown clearly 
that its objection to bargaining demands by the striking nurses is not 
a matter of cost, but of opposition to union representation. The bottom 
line is these nurses have voted twice for union representation, and 
they have a legal right to a contract. I will always support the right 
of employees to organize and to collectively bargain with their 
employers.
  Since the beginning of this strike, I have visited the nurses on the 
picket lines, met with the hospital administration, and held a town 
hall meeting in Petoskey.
  I have worked well with NMH over my 12 years in office and I have 
visited their facilities numerous times. It is time to bring back the 
experienced nurses who provided quality care at NMH for so long, and I 
urge the NMH administration to join the nurses and agree to binding 
arbitration or any other independent means so the community can move 
forward and heal.
  Every employee has the right to collectively come together, to 
unionize if they choose, and to address employment concerns with their 
employer. When labor disputes polarize the parties and negotiations 
break down, it is the responsibility of community residents and leaders 
to let each side know how they feel and to encourage both sides to stay 
engaged in meaningful discussions to resolve their differences. Any 
strike, any disruption of employment of any industry, divides and hurts 
the very fabric that composes any community. The NMH strike has torn at 
the very heart of the Petoskey area. It is time to end the division and 
reconcile the community, beginning with NMH.

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