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January 6, 2004NURSES STRIKE: NMH, union begin talks againTwo sides meet for about three hoursByRecord-Eagle staff writer PETOSKEY - Northern Michigan Hospital management and the union representing striking nurses are back at the bargaining table. The two sides quietly met Dec. 31 and negotiated for the first time since nurses walked off the job more than 13 months ago. Both sides confirmed the meeting, as well as tentative plans to talk again. But neither side would outline specific issues discussed, or speculate as to whether the nurses strike moved closer to resolution. Representing the hospital was its labor attorney, Steven Fishman, and vice president of human resources, Gene Kaminski. Representing striking nurses was Teamsters Local 406 attorney Ted Iorio, Teamsters business agent Sharon Norton and striking NMH nurse Julia Hulderman, a member of the nurses' bargaining committee. Hospital spokesman Thomas Spencer said the two sides met for about three hours, and "discussed many issues related to the (hospital's) final offer expiration, and a possible contract." The bitter labor dispute is now the longest uninterrupted nurses strike in U.S. history. Iorio said union officials and striking nurses are trying to do everything they can to resolve the strike - including keeping a low profile on new negotiations. "We aren't going to get it done unless we talk, (and) we hadn't talked in a year," he said. "We're pleased with the fact that we are meeting. We will be even more pleased when we reach an agreement." Spencer appeared to indicate that hospital management has not moved from its position of more than a year. Management repeatedly has urged union officials to end the nurses strike by accepting management's final contract offer. That offer was made in December 2002 and expired last Dec. 14. "We went to learn if their position had changed," Spencer said. "At this point, there's no indication that it has." Still, local residents and state officials expressed optimism that the two sides were finally talking again. "Praise the Lord," said Little Traverse Township resident Martha Radle. "I would hope they will come to some kind of agreement and end the strike." Mary Dettloff, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, said the governor is "very happy" about resumed negotiations, something Granholm has urged for months. "It's critical that the people of that region have access to good, quality health care, and this is an important part of that process," Dettloff said.
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