Dane County union leaders gathered in support of UnityPoint Health-Meriter nurses Friday morning, the same day the hospital issued a fourth proposal before a pending ten-day strike set to start next Wednesday.
“They were calm, caring, and advocated for us when we need them to,” Joshua Stern said, President of IBEW Local 159. “Now it’s our turn to advocate for them.”
The efforts of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin to seek a contract they see as fair have garnered the attention of area lawmakers ahead of a possible strike. Nurses say they’re seeking a voice in decision making, higher wages, and expanded paid time off.
“We need those things in order to feel valued, we need those things to be able to rest and recharge after such a grueling year,” Meriter NICU registered nurse Louise Nordstrom said.
“Nurses are exhausted but nevertheless ask over and over again to work extra shifts to fill staffing gaps,” said Dane County NAACP’s executive director Bill Franks.
The latest proposal issued Friday boosts its 2022 pay increase from 3.7% in the last proposal to 3.8%, while keeping the 2021 3.7% pay increase the same. It also includes another ten hours added to vacation and sick time, bringing the total offer to 50 extra hours. UnityPoint Health Meriter included previous proposals of incentive pay for picking up extra shifts and added influence in policy making.
SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin didn’t have a formal update on ongoing bargaining negotiations when reached for comment on Friday, but said conversations were ongoing through the federal mediator.
“We’ve heard from them, kind of their top areas of concerns and priorities,” Meriter’s chief nursing executive Sherry Casali said. The latest proposal she feel satisfies what nurses are asking for, but adds that negotiations are expected to continue ahead of next week’s strike deadline.
“We’re ready and willing to negotiate into the evening, into the wee hours of the morning, willing to negotiate over the weekend,” Casali said.
UnityPoint Health leaders maintain their wages are already above fair market rate, and have included “generous and flexible” time off for nurses of up to 7 weeks annually for the longest serving employees.
SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin represents about 850 nurses at the Meriter hospital, but not all. Cardiac catheterization lab, medical imaging, clinic nurses, nursing education and forensic nurses are some of the departments that aren’t represented by a union.
It’s been a tough year for nurses, and ultimately, they want an offer that recognizes that.
“What we’re fighting for is what all of us want,” Nordstrom said of the Friday morning press conference with other labor leaders. “A fair contract that allows us to rest and recharge away from work, and allows us to have the work-life balance that we all deserve.”
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