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Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Michigan Medicine nurses vote in favor of authorizing work stoppage
Hospital says strike illegal for public employees, both sides continue contract bargaining RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan Professional Nurses Council announced Monday morning that Michigan Medicine
nurses voted overwhelmingly to strike for three days amid bargaining efforts. Over 4,000 nurses voted in favor of a strike. UMPNC represents more than 5,700 registered nurses at University Michigan hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities. UMPNC members have filed unfair labor practice charges against the University for failing to bargain in good faith, making changes in work shift without notification and discrimination against free speech. In a press release, Michigan Medicine nurse Katie Scott said the University created barriers to negotiation. “The University keeps violating our rights,” Scott said. “They’ve created a wall that’s blocking us from negotiating the issues that are important to nurses and our patients. We’re saying, break down that wall so we can bargain in good faith.” Michigan Medicine spokeswoman Mary Masson wrote in a statement to The Daily that hospital administrators were disappointed to hear the outcome of the vote. Since it is illegal for public employees to strike, Masson wrote the hospital is willing to take legal action to avoid one. “Nurses are critical to the delivery of safe
patient care,” she wrote. “The most critically ill patients in the state come to Michigan Medicine. A strike could put patient safety at serious risk.” The statement goes on to clarify how patient care will be handled in the event of a work stoppage. “Since UMPNC announced it was seeking the vote, Michigan Medicine leaders have been developing a comprehensive continuity of operations plan in place in the event of a strike,” the statement reads. “This will include hiring and training temporary nurses to replace absent employees, deferring and rescheduling select procedures and making staff scheduling adjustments as needed. Michigan Medicine remains committed to patient safety during any union activity, and will do everything possible to maintain the highest quality of care during a strike... We remain ready to continue bargaining with the UMPNC and are eager to resolve the contract negotiations.” Katie Oppenheim, Michigan Medicine nurse and chair of UMPNC, said the nurses’ goal is to create a fair contract for all of its members. “Our goal is not a work stoppage,” Oppenheim said. “Our goal is a fair agreement which respects nurses and guarantees safe staffing. The University can remedy this situation immediately, by stopping their unfair labor practices and bargaining in good faith.”
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Prof. revokes offer to write Israel study abroad letter
‘U’ admin., Jewish community condemn boycott by prof. in support of Palestinians KATHERINA SOURINE Daily Staff Reporter
University of Michigan professor John CheneyLippold is facing claims of anti-Semitism after rescinding his offer to write a recommendation letter for LSA junior Abigail Ingber, who requested the letter for an application for a study abroad program in Israel. Cheney-Lippold, who works in the American Culture Department, expressed his apologies in the email but claimed that as part of an academic boycott against Israel, he would be unable to write a recommendation for the student. Club Z, an organization that works to empower and network Jewish students who are committed to Zionism, posted the screenshot of the email exchange to Facebook Sunday afternoon. The group criticized the email, claiming the message was anti-Semitic. The post also noted the U.S. Department of Education recent changes its definition
of anti-Semitism to include situations that hold Israel to a double standard in comparison to other democratic states. “As you may know, many University departments have pledged an academic boycott against Israel in support of Palestinians living in Palestine,” the email read. “This boycott includes writing letters of recommendation for students planning to study there.” This boycott follows last year’s controversy regarding the #UMDivest movement and the Central Student Government resolution that called for the University to investigate divestment from companies that violate Palestinian human rights. The resolution passed last November with 23 votes in favor, 17 against and five abstentions. The following December, the Board of Regents rejected the resolution. Michigan Hillel Chair Kendall Coden, an LSA senior, described her disappointment See LETTER, Page 2
ACADEMICS
Commissioner of FCC talks political battle for net neutrality laws
Ann Arbor water treatment Assembly manager warns residents not considers to eat foam in Huron River issues with
Jessica Rosenworcel one of the two dissenters in body’s decision to ban net neutrality last December
City Council also discussed last week’s police oversight board proposal, comprehensive transportation update plan
GOVERNMENT
LEAH GRAHAM Daily Staff Reporter
Ann Arbor’s water treatment plant manager Brian Steglitz spoke to City Council Monday night about contamination warnings along the Huron River, including the expansion of a do-not-eat fish advisory to
include a warning against consuming foam from the river. In August, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced polyf luoroalkyl substance tests showed fish in five counties along the Huron River were contaminated beyond safe levels. PFAS have been linked to health
problems including increased risk of cancer and higher cholesterol levels. PFAS compounds are used in various industrial processes and consumer products, such as non-stick cookware and fast food wrappers. Because the PFAS compounds don’t occur naturally, they can See RIVER, Page 3
MATT VAILLIENCOURT/Daily
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel discusses net neutrality at a policy talk put on by the Ford school Monday afternoon.
JULIA FORD
Daily Staff Reporter
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel of the Federal Communications Commission visited the University of Michigan Monday night to discuss net neutrality with Jack Bernard, associate general counsel of the University, to a crowd of about 150 students, staff and community members at the Ford School of Public Policy. The FCC decided to repeal net neutrality rules on Dec. 14, and the repeal took effect June 11. This decision allows broadband providers to change the pricing packages for
different users and different content. Rosenworcel was one of the two dissenters in the agency’s decision to repeal net neutrality and has since been a vocal supporter of the protections. Bernard said a cloud of confusion often surrounds net neutrality, so he began the policy talk by asking Rosenworcel to define the term. “It means that you can go where you want and do what you want online, and your broadband provider does not make decisions for you,” Rosenworcel explained. “It means your broadband provider does not have the See FCC, Page 3
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attendance Faculty Senate members also suggest permanent Tri-Campus committee DANIELLE PASEKOFF Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan’s Senate Assembly convened Monday afternoon for its first meeting of the academic year. The group discussed a motion to create a tri-campus committee for the Senate Assembly, as well as a resolution to change the assembly rules to allow remote attendance and electronic voting for representatives. The meeting opened with remarks by Joy Beatty, vice chair of the Senate Assembly and an associate professor at U-M Dearborn, in which Beatty explained the foundational principles of the Senate Assembly to new members, as well as the assembly’s position in regard to other governing bodies at the University. The assembly consists of 74 elected faculty members from across schools and departments on the University of Michigan’s three campuses. “I’d encourage you to
Ann Arbor City Council member Julia Grand (D-Ward 3) asks a question after a presentation by the city’s water treatment manager during a City Council meeting at City Hall Monday evening.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVII, No.137 ©2018 The Michigan Daily
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6
See ATTENDANCE, Page 3
SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 SPORTS....................7