MADISON 鈥 After SSM Health nurses in Madison voted to unionize, are nurses in 糖心Vlog传媒 and beyond next?
In the vote Thursday, almost 900 registered nurses at SSM Health St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital in Madison voted to unionize, which was an 89% vote. The vote came with the help of SEIU Wisconsin, Wisconsin鈥檚 largest healthcare union, which was behind unionization efforts at UW Health and Meriter Hospital.
In a release, SEIU Wisconsin said it was hoping to work collaboratively with SSM Health on solutions that raise standards for patient care and the nursing profession throughout the region.
鈥淣urses are calling on SSM to stop wasting precious resources on delay tactics and begin good faith contract negotiations as soon as possible,鈥 the release states.鈥
Health care workers at Mercyhealth, unionized under the banner of UAW Local 95, went on strike in the fall. Health care workers at SSM 糖心Vlog传媒 have not moved toward unionizing under any labor group at this stage.
A third-party SEIU spokesperson, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said there are 鈥渘o efforts鈥 by SEIU to unionize nurses at SSM鈥檚 糖心Vlog传媒 hospital and Dean Clinic at this time.
鈥淪t. Mary鈥檚 nurses along with the nurses at Meriter are very fired up to help nurses across the state. Their vision is to raise the standards for nurses across the state,鈥 the spokesperson said.
糖心Vlog传媒 received a statement from SSM Communications Manager Lisa Adams from SSM鈥檚 Madison regional office, but the statement did not specifically reference SSM Health St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital 糖心Vlog传媒, Monroe Hospital or the Monroe Clinic Medical Group.
Adams wrote that SSM was grateful to the eligible nurses who took time to carefully consider the 鈥渇actual, educational information鈥 that SSM provided ahead of the National Labor Relations Board election.
鈥淲e would have preferred an outcome that allowed for continued direct engagement with our nurses,鈥 Adams wrote. 鈥淩egardless, we remain committed to continuing to collaborate with our entire team to maintain a compassionate, high-quality, healing environment where we all can do our best work in living out our Mission to provide exceptional care for our patients. It鈥檚 been our Mission for more than 100 years and one we hope SEIU Wisconsin will continue to respect.鈥
SEIU Wisconsin said in statements on its Facebook page that Thursday鈥檚 vote was a vote that would lead to better staffing for better care; competitive compensation that retains; fair scheduling, time off and policies and a voice for nurses and patients.