The new UPHS-Marquette hospital in Marquette is pictured. (Journal file photo.)

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Nurses Association has filed three charges against UP Health System-Marquette with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the facility “violated federal labor law though its lack of transparency,” a press release issued today by the MNA states.

Personal protective equipment levels are at the heart of the UPHS-Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA complaint, according to the release.

“UPHS-Marquette has refused to provide a complete inventory of PPE — gloves and masks — to nurses despite repeated requests,” MNA officials stated in the release. “Instead, they have provided the number of days left they have of PPE without sharing how much PPE they expect to use each day, making the number essentially meaningless. They also directed nurses to the state of Michigan’s website even though it does not include the specifics about PPE RNs were requesting.”

In the release, MNA alleges that UPHS-Marquette also violated both Occupational Safety and Health Administration policy and the National Labor Relations Act by “improperly redacting OSHA logs,” prompting the second charge filed against UPHS-Marquette with the National Labor Relations Board.

The organization has also filed a third charge against UPHS-Marquette, alleging lack of financial transparency because it has “refused to disclose how much money in grants they have received from the federal government, while saying that they can’t agree to nurses’ COVID-specific requests, such as additional COVID-related paid time off, because it’s ‘financially impossible,'” the release states.

UPHS-Marquette communications officials were contacted today for comment, but could not provide immediate comment on the matter.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.