Members of the Michigan Nurses Association are asking for greater clarity about their jobs ahead of South Bend, Ind.-based Beacon Health System’s planned acquisition of Ascension hospitals in southwest Michigan.
In a June 4 news release, the union said hundreds of nurses at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich., and Ascension Borgess Allegan Hospital are left wondering about their jobs after the deal closes. Specifically, they want “guarantees that their employment will continue.”
The union also said many of them do know whether they will lose thousands of dollars in health retirement benefits in the transition.
MNA cited a document provided to employees that states, “The employment of all Ascension Southwest Michigan associates and clinicians and associates of related medical practices will directly transition to Beacon Health System as long as you meet the Beacon Health System employment requirements.”
The union said the document refers to the possible need for nurses to complete “all steps as soon as possible.” However, MNA contends Beacon has not shared details about the employment requirements or required steps.
“It’s ridiculous that nurses who have served our community for decades have to worry about whether they’ll still have a job after Beacon’s takeover,” Lori Batzloff, a nurse at Ascension Borgess in Kalamazoo and president of the MNA local bargaining unit, said in the release. “It’s not fair to make us guess about our employment or jump through unknown hoops to keep working. It feels like a punch in the gut to be treated so disrespectfully when it comes to our jobs and our retirement.”
The acquisition — expected to close this summer — covers Ascension Borgess, Ascension Borgess Allegan, Dowagiac-based Ascension Borgess-Lee and Plainwell-based Ascension Borgess-Pipp hospitals. It will also include 35 outpatient clinics and an ambulatory surgery center.
In a statement shared with Becker’s, Beacon said that since it and Ascension inked a definitive agreement in early April, “we have reassured both clinicians and associates that we are committed to their continued employment with Beacon Health System.”
In May, Beacon, which has named leaders to new roles ahead of the planned acquisition, assured nurses that the system would honor the union’s collective bargaining agreement.
But MNA contends that Beacon has failed to meet with union representatives since the acquisition announcement and that Ascension has not been transparent in sharing the sales agreement covering Beacon’s purchase of the hospitals.
The union said nurses in Kalamazoo have also filed a grievance over concerns about losing health retirement benefits.
“We know there will be additional questions,” Beacon said. “Beacon and Ascension are dedicated to transparency and sharing information as it’s finalized and becomes available during this ongoing process. We are focused on a smooth transition for associates, physicians and patients as our organizations share a commitment to improving health in the communities we serve.”
Becker’s has reached out to Ascension and will update this story if a comment is received.
