Mt. Clemens, MI (Aug. 29, 2019) – A group of 320 clerical associates, couriers, critical care techs, dispatchers, lab assistants, patient access reps, patient sitters, pharmacy techs and several other classifications at McLaren Macomb hospital voted last night 172 to 113 to form a union with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 40. There were 35 additional ballots that remained unopened and were not determinative in the election outcome.

The vote proceeded despite McLaren’s efforts to defy the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region 7’s recently issued Decision and Direction of Election by attempting to stop the election from proceeding and challenging nearly 100 voters, which would have resulted in a delay of election results. The NLRB, however, ordered the ballots to be opened and included in the total vote count.

Workplace violence against nurses has significantly increased in the past decade or so, with some studies suggesting a 110% spike in the rate of violent injuries against healthcare workers in the last 10 years.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there are 4 types of workplace violence in the healthcare field:

• Type I: The perpetrator has criminal intent and has no relationship to the business or its employees
• Type II: A customer, client, or patient becomes violent when receiving care or services
• Type III: employee-to-employee violence
• Type IV: Personal relationship violence