OPEIU Local 40 Medical Workers Union are calling on Michiganders to help with the drastic shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in multiple hospitals. OPEIU Local 40 is accepting donations of PPE (Personal protection equipment) unused N95 masks, and other unused masks, protective eye wear/safety goggles, and gowns which will be distributed to the medical staff we represent at local respective hospitals who are running out.
«We’ve received numerous emails and calls from well-wishing patients and their families,» said OPEIU Local 40 President Jeff Morawski, RN. «They’re asking if they can donate to the nurses and frontline caregivers who are on the frontlines and caring for patients every day.»
OPEIU Local 40 will accept new personal protective equipment at its office located at 46819 Garfield Road Macomb Township, MI 48044. The office is closed, but a limited number of staff will be present to accept donations.
«Every mask collected means a medical professional will be less afraid to go home to their families at night,» Morawski said. «Re-using masks is potentially dangerous for both staff and patients. And if we can’t keep medical staff safe, we won’t have medical staff to care for patients.»
Local 40 is also requesting the community sign the petition they are passing calling on President Trump to use the Defense Production Act to rapidly increase the production of lifesaving equipment for healthcare workers putting everything on the line for our community! https://forms.gle/3fRzJ7Skxzcrjmxb8
OPEIU Local 40 represents registered nurses at McLaren Macomb and the RNs, Radiology Technologists, and Laboratory Technologists at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital. Local 40 is a founding member of the OPEIU Nurses Council, which represents more than 14,000 healthcare professionals.