A Message from the President 

10/12/25

As PA Week draws to a close I want to personally thank each of you for all you do to care for our patients and your dedication to our teams and fellow PAs. Because of your tremendous contributions, PAs continue to demonstrate the value we bring to our community by providing exceptional care and serving as a model of leadership and integrity.

Currently there are over 420 PAs employed at Michigan Medicine working in nearly every specialty. Proudly, 74% of Michigan Medicine PAs are dues paying UPAMM members.  With your support, UPAMM has been able to achieve significant gains for PAs not only in compensation but also by demanding input in decisions that affect the work we do and the care we provide. 

With the second contract PAs received a 2.91% equity adjustment, a 9% salary increase in the first 2 years of the contract and a one time step advancement on the salary scale resulting in pay equity with our non physician colleagues. Additionally the successor contract provided unlimited PTO sell back, increased shift differential pay, additional pay for PAs working dedicated nights, immediate availability of over appointment shifts and expanded moonlighting opportunities. The Professional Development Model Committee has been working with PA Leadership to enact guidelines that recognize and reward PAs for the work you do beyond your daily clinical responsibilities. In 2026, PAs will receive all economic benefits granted to NPs in the UMPNC successor contract and PAs continually employed at Michigan Medicine since the time of contract ratification will receive a 2K retention bonus.There have been notable gains as a result of implementing the contract language. Workload reviews have been completed while others are  ongoing and adjustments are being made to ensure the work can be completed in the PAs appointment fraction, thus minimizing PAs routinely having to complete work outside of their normally scheduled hours or  scheduled days off. UPAMM is advocating for members who are experiencing unilateral  changes to work hours, as the contract requires that these changes must be bargained and cannot be implemented without agreement of the impacted PAs. We have prevented this in one area and continue to advocate fiercely in others. 

UPAMM continues to provide  opportunities for PAs to voice their concerns to PA Leadership about changes in their working conditions and demand that PAs are involved in making these decisions as outlined in the contract. We have more work to do in this area but have had many productive meetings and PA voices are being heard. Retirees and resignees that left the health system prior to March 2025 but were employed at the time of contract ratification will receive retroactive pay to July 1 2024. The floating holiday will cover the entire shift length for those PAs working alternate schedules (shifts greater than 8 hours) as outlined in our successful arbitration case.

I am proud to represent all of you and the union’s goal is to make sure every PA feels empowered to bring their concerns forward without fear of retribution and feel supported in working through the creative problem solving process. Together, we can make lasting changes that will provide equitable pay, a safe and professional work environment and a fair work life balance.

Happy PA Week and thank you again for all you do everyday for our patients and their families. 

In Solidarity,

Lisa Marie Spratke PA-C

President UPAMM