Nurses at Aspirus Iron River, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, rejected a contract proposal due to a number of items, including eliminated experience-based wages, lower wages than the MNA proposal for nearly half the nurses represented, and a failure to provide solutions for the Ironwood OB unit closure and address the nurse’s proposal regarding that unit. MNA president Sarah Trudgeon called the offer “unreasonable,” citing the need for competitive wages and criticizing Aspirus for healthcare cuts. Bargaining resumes October 24th. Nurses are also protesting cuts to CNAs, added charge nurse duties, and halted overnight emergency surgeries, with a rally planned for today, Friday the 17th.