As the coronavirus continues to flood Michigan, healthcare workers are needed more than ever. They are working around the clock, sometimes 16 hours shifts back to back. They are running out of PPE and are reusing masks for days on end. As of this present time, there are over 50 employees with confirmed cases of coronavirus within the Trinity Health Michigan system.

Trinity Health has not offered any hazard pay for its employees. Trinity Health has only issued a PTO Emergency Reserve Program. This program states that if an employee’s PTO bank reached 0, they will allow the employee to use up to 40 hours additional but, they must pay it back. They are offering paid administrative leave before PTO is used but, only if you get sick from the virus and are quarantined for 2 weeks. However, there is no compensation given to these employees that are risking their lives every day to come into work; they are exposing themselves to the virus knowingly to save lives, while our managers sit at home collecting a paycheck. Most of these employees are terrified, not that they will get ill, but they might bring home this virus to their families.

We are demanding that Trinity Health pay their employees hazard pay during this time of need. Now, more than ever, Trinity Health should be backing and supporting their employees. These employees are on the front line of this pandemic every day and Trinity Health has shown no appreciation whatsoever. The time is now for them to step up and take action to pay these heroes what they deserve.