The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering a historic new rule that would establish a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes for the first time.
Unfortunately, the nursing home industry is spending big to prevent this rule from being finalized. That’s why HHS needs to hear from you.
Just about everyone in America has a loved one in a nursing home, knows someone who works in a nursing home or recognizes that they may need nursing home care in the future—even if just temporarily.
Care work done in nursing homes is incredibly important and difficult work—work that is more often done by women and people of color. We cannot let monied interests stand in the way of advocating for care workers and the people they care for.
Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement of solidarity as rank-and-file staff of Wisconsin Watch, the non-profit newsroom, announce the formation of the Wisconsin Watch Union with the NewsGuild-CWA.
“We proudly stand in solidarity with the workers of Wisconsin Watch as they seek union rights and representation with the NewsGuild-CWA,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “Wisconsin workers are speaking up and taking action to build better workplaces with dignity and respect on the job. Working people are standing together to organize unions in their workplaces in order to build a fair and just economy that works for all. We look forward to supporting Wisconsin Watch workers through the process of organizing a union and securing a first union contract.”
Breaking Update: Senator Tammy Baldwin will join UAW Local 75 workers on the UAW Stand Up Strike picket line at 3280 S. Clement Ave, Milwaukee this Thursday, October 12 at 11:30 am. Click here for additional details and join Senator Baldwin and UAW Local 75 workers on the picket line.
Using a rolling strike strategy that grows over time, UAW members across the country are striking for a fair contract at the Big Three automakers of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler). UAW workers are asking for a fair contract that ends disparate pay tiers and protects job security. Called the Stand up Strike, this historic fight isn’t just about autoworkers and their families, this is about creating a future where we can all prosper.
The Stand Up Strike: At midnight on September 15, 2023, over 12,000 UAW members walked off the job at General Motor’s Wentzville Missouri plant, Ford’s Wayne Michigan Assembly plant, and Stellantis’ Toledo Ohio Assembly complex. This marked the first time in UAW history that union workers struck all three of the Big Three automakers at the same time. On September 22, the Stand Up Strike expanded to 38 GM and Stellantis parts and distribution locations across 20 states, including two locations in Wisconsin. On September 29, seven thousand more UAW members answered the call to strike for economic justice at the Big Three as the UAW Stand Up Strike expanded to two additional plants: UAW Local 551, Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant and UAW Local 602, Lansing Delta Township. On October 6, due to progress being made at the bargaining table, no additional UAW workers went on strike.
Support Wisconsin UAW Families. Our brothers and sisters of UAW Local 722 who work at the GM parts distribution facility in Hudson and our brothers and sisters of UAW Local 75 who work at the Stellantis Mopar parts center in Bay View, Milwaukee have now been on strike for over two weeks. Join them on the picket line in solidarity.
In Hudson, join UAW 722 members on strike at the General Motors Hudson Parts Distribution Center, 2200 Willis Miller Drive. This is a 24-hour picket line.
In Milwaukee, join UAW Local 75 members on strike at the Stellantis Mopar parts facility at 3280 S. Clement Ave in Bay View, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Weekends, 8:00 am – 12:00pm.
Randy Stegner, a UAW Local 75 member who has worked at the Stellantis Mopar parts facility in Bay View for 19 years, explained why UAW workers are striking for a better contract.
“Wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living. We need a fair contract, especially for people who are starting out now, starting at lower wages. No one should be working next to a person making different money.”
“The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming,” continued Stegner. “People have joined the line, dropped off donations, honked as they drive past. It’s been great to feel that solidarity.”
UAW members are fighting for all of us. The Big Three have made a quarter-trillion dollars in profits in the past decade. Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis can more than afford to increase workers’ wages, end pay tiers, restore COLA, and ensure job security for the future of the auto industry. When working people stand together, we have the collective power to demand respect and fairness on the job.
Show your support. Stand with UAW workers fighting for fairness at the Big Three. Join Wisconsin UAW workers on the picket line in Milwaukee and Hudson.
New legislation to improve patient care in our Wisconsin hospitals has been introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature. The Nurse Staffing and Patient Protection Act has been introduced as Senate Bill 470 and assigned to the Committee on Health. Senate Bill 470 will create enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios and safe staffing plans for all direct care healthcare workers in hospitals in Wisconsin. The legislation will require hospitals to have enough nurses and healthcare workers working at all times, raising standards in our hospitals, reducing medical errors and improving working conditions for our health professionals.
The Nurse Staffing and Patient Protection Act was introduced by Senator Chris Larson, Senator Tim Carpenter, Senator Dianne Hesselbein and Senator LaTonya Johnson and is cosponsored by Rep. Francesca Hong, Rep. Melissa Ratcliff, Rep. Kristina Shelton, Rep. Marisabel Cabrera, Rep. Alex Joers, Rep. Jimmy Anderson, Rep. Christine Sinicki, Rep. Shelia Stubbs, Rep. Lori Palmeri, Rep. Ryan Clancy, Rep. Clinton Anderson, Rep. Sylvia Oritz-Velez and Rep. Lisa Subeck.
Contact your Wisconsin state senator and representative today and urge them to support this important legislation.
A recent national healthcare staffing task force report showed that adding just one more patient to a nurse’s workload can cause:
A 16 percent increase in each Medicare patient’s chance of mortality in a medical-surgical unit;
A 48 percent increased risk of readmission within 30 days for pediatric patients;
A 5 percent decrease in likelihood of surviving in-hospital cardiac arrest; and
An Increased risk of multiple kinds of infections.
Staffing ratios are a growing concern nationwide. A law that takes effect this month in Oregon is the nation's most recently passed legislation to require minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios across all hospitals. The law aims to improve patient safety, reduce medical errors, and provide nurses with better working conditions. This precedent-setting statute includes specified nurse-to-patient ratios for a wide range of acute care settings, including emergency departments, intensive care units, labor and delivery units, operating rooms, and others. We can and should do the same in Wisconsin.
Together, let’s raise our voice to improve patient care, better healthcare careers, and save lives in Wisconsin.
Support Wisconsin UAW Families. Our brothers and sisters of UAW Local 722 who work at the GM parts distribution facility in Hudson and our brothers and sisters of UAW Local 75 who work at the Stellantis Mopar parts center in Bay View, Milwaukee have now been on strike for over two weeks. Join them on the picket line in solidarity.
Randy Stegner, a UAW Local 75 member who has worked at the Stellantis Mopar parts facility in Bay View for 19 years, explained why UAW workers are striking for a better contract.