UnityPoint Meriter nurses gathered at Brittingham Park April 8 in preparation for a strike if demands are not met in its contract negotiations.
The rally, which was a strike-ready rally, aimed to bring attention to the continued issues Meriter nurses have attempted to negotiate for. Their union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), has been in negotiation on the nurse’s contract since January to address compensation, workplace safety and quality patient care.
The contract for SEIU nurses expired on March 16, was extended through March 23 and they are currently without a contract.
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
“Meriter is a great place to work — and we’ll be the first ones to tell you that, but there are opportunities to improve and that’s why we’re here today.” said Pat Raes, president of SEIU Wisconsin. “We want management to understand that we are ready to go on strike for the sake of our patient safety and our staff safety, and that’s really the highest priority in our books.”
Compensation for Meriter nurses has been a continuous issue. Nurses push for a living wage in hopes of fostering more longevity and attracting more staff. It trickles into its other top issues of workplace safety and quality care. Without sufficient staff, or “ratios” as Raes described it, nurses are left to feel unsafe often.
Nurses have asked for more security staff and or metal detectors to be installed. UnityPoint Meriter is the only hospital in Madison without metal detectors, Raes said. Other non-monetary solutions have been lobbied in place but have been shot down.
“We want a safe environment. I have had IV poles swung at me like a bat in my 36 years at the bedside. I have seen patient family members pull a pocket knife out and set it on the table when I’m talking to them about the care plan,” Raes said. “We have seen nurses leave the field because they don’t feel like they can provide care to patients when their lives are at risk.”
The lack of safety translates into a lack of staff which in turn lowers the quality of care available to patients. Nurses describe themselves as being overloaded with patients and just one more added to their plate will be “the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”
It’s not the first time nurses at Meriter have made the demands. In 2021 and 2023, negotiations remained stagnant with strikes threatened. Working agreements, which haven’t met its continued demands, were made to ensure care can continue but the issues continued to bubble.
Nurses called on UnityPoint to meet demands or a strike will happen soon. A contract negotiation will take place today and another round is scheduled for May 1.
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