SEIU nurses at the UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison are reclaiming their union. Fighting for staffing best practices and restored workplace rights, professional nurses in the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority (UWHCA) announced that they have formed a union and demanded voluntary recognition from the UWHCA Board of Directors.
The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is proud to stand with SEIU nurses. We call on the UWHCA Board of Directors to respect nurses, listen to the vital voices of nurses, and honor every workers’ freedom to join a union.
On Thursday, December 19, nurses brought their concerns directly to the UWHCA Board of Directors, delivering a letter outlining their demands for improved patient care and calling on the board to recognize the union.
“We’re demanding the resources, staffing and protections that are necessary to do our jobs effectively and advocate for our patients,” said Mariah Clark, an Emergency Department nurse at UW Hospital of 5 years. “By joining together in a strong union, we can raise standards, deliver the highest level of care for our patients, and ensure everyone who works at the hospital can provide for their families while caring for others.”
Nurses at UW Hospital had their union rights stripped as part of Scott Walker’s Act 10. The UWHCA Board of Directors has the authority to recognize the nurses' union, and meet and confer about terms and conditions of employment. Nurses are demanding union recognition, immediate changes in staffing levels, and a return to just cause standard and Weingarten rights.
“As we fight to win back our union, we’re creating a model for other workers across the state and around the country to innovate, build power and have a voice on the job,” said Kate Walton, Emergency Department nurse at UW. “Working people in Wisconsin should be able to come together in a union — no matter where we work or where we live — and have a seat at the decision-making table to have more say about workplace conditions and other things that matter for our families.”
Nurses are on the front lines of patient care and need to be respected and protected to speak out behalf of patients. Having a strong union is the best way to address workplace issues and improve patient care and outcomes.
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