GRAND BLANC -- After nearly a year of picketing and threats of a strike the Teamsters Local 332 and Genesys Regional Medical Center have reached a tentative labor contract agreement.
NBC25 found out how it went down and how both sides feel about it.
"It has just been one punch after another and one blow after another, and it has been pretty much a mud slinging street fight," said Teamsters Local 332 President Nina Bugbee.
Teamsters Local 332 President Nina Bugbee stayed up all night negotiating with Genesys Regional Medical Center on a labor contract agreement.
It could be the end of ten months of bargaining, 25 demonstrations, and a threat to strike by the union.
"Genesys as we know it today is making profits, and the CEO is still making a half a million dollar salary, so it's pretty hard when there's not sacrifice from the top down," said Bugbee.
About a month ago, Genesys stopped negotiations with the Technical Teamsters and handed over their best and final offer. 80% of the Teamsters voted to reject that contract, but this time it might be different.
"I wouldn't be bringing it back if I didn't think it was acceptable to take a look at and vote on," said Bugbee.
Bugbee says several pickets sent a message 300 LPN's, therapists, and paramedics would not settle for pension cuts and unfair wages.
"I think the exposure of a very bad employer, with very bad practices under Catholic social teaching, yeah I think every bit of it helped," said Bugbee.
And Bugbee credits federal mediation in settling the contract Saturday.
"That is why we were able to reach a reasonable deal to bring back and allow the members to vote to say yup this is good enough, nope it’s not," said Bugbee.
Even though the Teamsters and Genesys have agreed to work with one another, tension remains high.
"The relationship has been damaged, there is no doubt about it, they did not want a worker relationship with this union or the employees, and I don't see a change in that mindset," said Bugbee.
Genesys says they appreciate both bargaining teams for working diligently to reach this agreement, and remain optimistic for a successful ratification.
The Teamsters will vote on the contract in a few weeks.
If a tentative agreement had not been reached Saturday, the Teamsters would have given a ten day strike notice.
