In one of the largest union elections in 20 years, nearly 10,000 Corewell Health nurses across southeast Michigan have voted to unionize, marking a significant milestone in healthcare labor organizing.
Friday (Nov. 15) night, chants and cheers filled Nemo’s in Detroit’sCorktown neighborhood as nurses gathered to celebrate the historic outcome.
“Who are we? Teamsters! What do we want? A contract!”
The nurses voted 4,958 to 2,957 to join the Teamsters, aligning themselves with over 57,000 other members.
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For Corewell nurses, this victory is about more than just representation; it’s about transforming the healthcare industry.
“I think it really is going to set a precedent for nurses across the state and across the country,” said Brandella Thomas, RN. “If we can do this, everyone can.”
“We knew we needed an organization that had the grit and backbone to stand up to a corporation like Corewell Health,” said Barbara Douglas, RN.
Nurses have been calling for improved working conditions, fair wages, better healthcare and retirement benefits, and appropriate staffing levels.
They believe unionizing gives them the power to make meaningful changes.
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“We’re going to have one collective voice, almost 10,000 nurses strong,” said Sarah Johnson, a nurse in Royal Oak. “That is really going to give us some power to make demands to improve healthcare in Michigan.”
The election followed what Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien described as Corewell’s “most expensive and aggressive union-busting campaign” to date.
In a statement to Local 4, Corewell responded, saying, in part:
“We value all our nurses and are committed to moving forward together, united by our mission to provide high-quality care to our patients and the communities we serve.”
For these newly unionized nurses, patient care remains the top priority.
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“We want to make sure that we can do the best for our patients,” Johnson said.
Douglas echoed her sentiment, saying, “We want to be able to do that with the nursing staff and ancillary staff that allows us to do it!”
In one of the largest union elections in 20 years, nearly 10,000 Corewell Health nurses across southeast Michigan have voted to unionize, marking a significant milestone in healthcare labor organizing. (Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.)
—> Previous coverage: Corewell Health nurses push for Teamsters Union amid overwork concerns in Michigan
Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Detroit Public Schools Community District hosting 5th annual alumni event
DETROIT – Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) will host their fifth annual alumni event.
On May 16, the foundation will host their Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame Alumni Gala.
The Gala honors distinguished DPSCD alumni who have made a major impact in our community and beyond.
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The night is a celebration of Detroit’s success stories and a fundraiser to create new opportunities for the next generation of students.
Organizers say there will be a major live announcement aimed at helping Detroit High School students build brighter futures.
Kerrie Mitchell, the president and CEO of the DPSCD Foundation, joined Local 4 Live to talk more about the gala, the foundation’s mission and what the announcement could mean for students across the city.
You can watch the full interview in the video at the beginning of this article.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
The Detroit Zoo welcomed a new giraffe, Nguvu, to the herd, officials announced on Wednesday.
Officials say 1-year-old Nguvu came from Utah’s Hogle Zoo as part of the zoo’s “long-term plan for the giraffe herd.”
“This move was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Giraffe Species Survival Plan, which promotes the health, genetic diversity and overall sustainability of giraffe populations in zoos – and we’re eager to support Nguvu as he adjusts to his new home,” the Detroit Zoo says.
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Detroit Zoo
Officials say Nguvu has been working with the animal care teams for several days and will be introduced to the herd soon.
According to Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Nguvu was born in February 2025. His name means “strength” in Swahili.
The Detroit Lions are taking part in the NFL’s International series for the first time since 2015 by hosting the AFC Champion New England Patriots Week 10 in Munich at Allianz Arena on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 9:30 a.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local time in Germany) on FOX.
The Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl this past February after a 14-3 season and their 22nd AFC East title. They beat the Los Angeles Chargers (16-3), Houston Texans (28-16) and Denver Broncos (10-7) in the playoffs to earn their 12th Super Bowl appearance, which they lost to Seattle (29-13).
Patriots QB Drake Maye is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL entering his third season and New England’s defense is coming off a 2025 season in which they ranked fourth in points allowed (18.8) and eighth in total defense (295.2).
This is the second of Detroit’s 2026 matchups to be announced early (Week 2 TNF in Buffalo). The rest of the Lions schedule will be revealed Thursday evening.
