Nurses have returned to work at UnityPoint Meriter, claiming victory with a new contract and an end to their historic five-day strike.
The strike spanned May 27-31 over unfair labor practices as contract negotiations remained stagnant. Nurses represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Wisconsin demanded an increase in wages to lead to better staff ratios, recruitment, and retention of staff, safety and quality of care. Demands have been consistent since 2021, with nurses claiming a frequent push by UnityPoint Health to do more with less.
Nurses returned to work on June 1 after an agreement was made on May 31. Workers celebrated the tentative agreement with “historical language,” said Pat Raes, president of SEIU Wisconsin.
“Both sides compromised, worked together and came up with language that was acceptable to both,” Raes said. “We are very happy to call an end to our strike and our nurses will be returning back to the hospital.”
An 8% raise over two years was agreed upon in bargaining sessions. While the parties were not able to put safety concerns into contractual language, they have opened the door for further discussions in the future. Meriter has agreed to try to address staff’s safety and security concerns.
Nurse-to-patient ratios have been addressed in the contract. While not exactly what has been lobbied for in the previous demands, new language will hold management accountable and will give a better voice to nurses to collaborate on a unit-based staffing framework — which will help safer staffing levels.
“Our strike has galvanized our members to continue the fight for winning legislated staffing ratios not only at Meriter, but in the state of Wisconsin,” said Amber Anderson, a member of the union bargaining team and nurse at UnityPoint Meriter.
“We are extremely pleased to reach a contract that we can all be proud of,” said Sherry Casli, a UnityPoint Health – Meriter Chief Nursing Executive, in a statement. “Nurses are critical to what we do each day, and we believe that this contract recognizes their skill, commitment and passion.”
The contract, which spans two years, has been finalized. Nurses returned to work on June 1 at 7 a.m.
