Members of Service Employees International Union Wisconsin have voted to ratify a tentative agreement reached May 31 at the end of a five-day strike at UnityPoint Health-Meriter in Madison, Wis.
The two-year agreement, approved June 1, covers approximately 950 nurses at the hospital.
Pat Raes, president of Service Employees International Union Wisconsin and a nurse at Meriter, pointed to the following highlights during a return-to-work rally June 1, according to the Wisconsin Examiner and a video of the rally on the union’s Facebook page.
- Language about staffing concerns.
- Stronger commitments from the hospital to improve workplace safety and strengthen nurses’ role in safety practices.
- Raises of 10% over the life of the contract, including 8% across the board over those two years with step increases.
“This was a long and difficult negotiation,” Ms. Raes said, according to the Examiner. “We acknowledge Meriter’s management for ultimately coming to the table and reaching an agreement that prioritizes the needs of our patients and our dedicated professionals. Today, we turn the page.”
In a statement posted June 1, UnityPoint Health-Meriter Chief Nursing Executive Sherry Casali, MSN, RN, said: “We are extremely pleased to reach a contract that we can all be proud of. Nurses are critical to what we do each day, and we believe that this contract recognizes their skill, commitment and passion.”
