FAQs for Physician Assistants
Do you have a question not answered below? Contact one of our members of leadership:
About UPAMM
We are AFT-Michigan Local 5297 representing the Physician Assistants employed at Michigan Medicine advocating for all of us to have a voice in our workplace.
The mission of United Physician Assistants of Michigan Medicine (UPAMM) is to represent, advocate, and serve as the democratic voice for its Physician Assistant members.
Through collective bargaining, we will strive to achieve a fair work-life balance, equal pay for equal work, and transparency in a diverse, inclusive, safe and professional work environment while providing the high quality and safe patient care we strive to achieve.
Together, we will demonstrate the value we bring to our community by providing exceptional care and serving as a model of leadership and integrity.
The 1.7 million member American Federation of Teachers (AFT) includes healthcare, K‑12, higher education employees, and non‑education public employees. upamm.org
AFT membership includes 200,000 healthcare employees. upamm.org
It means that the represented physician assistants will have the expertise and resources of the AFT in your corner and the strength of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL‑CIO). In addition to the AFT, the AFL‑CIO includes unions such as the UAW, AFSCME, Michigan Nurses Association, Steelworkers, the Building Trades unions, and many more. upamm.org
Accomplishments
Equal Pay For Equal Work
Retroactive pay to July 1st, 2024
2.91% Equity Adjustment
5% salary increase
Step Advancement
Unlimited PTO sell back
Increased shift differential
New nocturnist pay
Immediate availability of over appointment shifts
Expanded internal moonlighting opportunities
Effective July 1 2025
UPAMM pay scale identical to UMPNC CBA
4% salary increase
Career Ladder /Professional Development Model
Effective 2026
UPAMM to receive all economic benefits granted to NPs in UMPNC successor contract on the same date
2K retention bonus
Membership
- Equitable wages that recognize our years of service and credentials to maintain retention of experienced and highly skilled PAs
- Securing our health and retirement benefits
- Transparent and fair policies and procedures
- Representation and due process procedures when resolving workplace issues
- Appropriate workloads, allowing for work/life balance
- Appropriate staffing in order to provide for safe world class care
- Recognition of expertise, skills, and education
- Participation in Michigan Medicine’s tripartite mission
- Additional improvements moved forward by group consensus
SIGNING UP NOW ensures your voice is heard, builds our collective bargaining power, and ensures every PA and their service’s unique needs are fully represented !!
Participation! Unions are strong and successful when members get involved! Join one of our committees, become a UPAMM Steward, attend membership meetings, talk with your coworkers. Stay Informed! And Be Involved!
Union Structure
We do! Members will make all the big decisions, like setting our priorities in negotiations, electing officers, and voting on the final contract. Elected officers are responsible for implementing the members’ decisions.
All clinically practicing PAs with a full or part time appointment. Temporary employees are not part of the bargaining unit.
Participation! Unions are strong and successful when members get involved! Join one of our committees, become a UPAMM Steward, attend membership meetings, talk with your coworkers. Stay Informed! And Be Involved!
Contract Negotiations
It’s a legally binding document that spells out what we and the administration have agreed to during negotiations.
It’s a process of coming to an agreement between representatives from the Union and representatives of the Employer. At the bargaining table, we are equals and have the ability to advocate for our members and push forward proposals to improve our workplace and secure competitive salary and benefits.
We do! Members make up the Bargaining Committee.
The Bargaining Committee decides what issues need to be addressed in the contract. They craft the language and set the agenda for what needs to be achieved in the next contract
The Bargaining Team represents UPAMM membership in negotiations with the Employer. Once a tentative agreement is reached it is brought forward to all dues paying members for ratification.
Dues and Finances
To build and maintain a strong union requires RESOURCES and EXPERTISE. Resources and expertise cost money. UPAMM employs an Executive Director who runs the day to day operations of the union, has a strong background in the labor movement and contract negotiations and supports the elected officers in their roles.
We pay dues to both the state and national labor organization AFT. Both AFT Michigan and AFT National provide support in officer training, contract negotiations,cost analysis,organizing members and strategic planning.
UPAMM members dues are set at 0.8% of base salary. Dues make money, they don’t cost money. Our dues are much below the national average and lower than other unions in the health system.
Goals
- Equitable wages that recognize our years of service and credentials to maintain retention of experienced and highly skilled PAs
- Securing our health and retirement benefits
- Transparent and fair policies and procedures
- Representation and due process procedures when resolving workplace issues
- Appropriate workloads, allowing for work/life balance
- Appropriate staffing in order to provide for safe world class care
- Recognition of expertise, skills, and education
- Participation in Michigan Medicine’s tripartite mission
- Additional improvements moved forward by group consensus
AFT Partnership
AFT has a history of working with professional and skilled employees, including healthcare workers. With five locals (UPAMM,HOA UMAPP, LEO—non-tenure-track faculty, GEO—graduate student employees), they have a long-term presence at U of M. The healthcare arm of AFT is expanding nationally and recognizes the unique needs of healthcare providers.
Rights and Protections
Under Michigan state law, you have a right to participate in union activities and to talk about the union. The UM Regents’ Neutrality Resolution (June 2020) recognizes and reinforces your rights. Under the policy, supervisors should not talk to workers about the union at all. We are unionized Employees with rights and protections. We have an agreement with management that says that all discipline must be for just cause.
Addressing Common Concerns
UPAMM is run by and for PAs at Michigan Medicine. All decisions are made by members. Therefore, members’ interests are at the heart of our mission.
Fact: Our union has been and continues to be organized BY us, FOR us, and WE don’t want to protect coworkers who add to our workload instead of alleviating it! We actually hope to improve the ways management deals with these kinds of situations!
Fact: Many of us like our managers and physician partners! However, leaders may come and go. We need a fair contract that maintains our working conditions even if our leaders get promoted. Additionally our contract provides clear guidelines, processes, and procedures– simplifying their workloads.
Fact: Our dues have been set by membership. We determine the rate and how the money will be used. It’s in our interest to keep dues low! Everyone pitches in a little to get a lot more back! Paying dues will ensure equity salary and secure benefits; in the end. Dues are a great return on investment! According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, unionized workers’ median wage was 16% higher than their non-unionized counterparts in 2023.
