Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Calling for a Fair and Fast Union Election for Nurses at University of Wisconsin Health to Ensure Quality Patient Care
Body
WHEREAS, the registered nurses at University of Wisconsin Health have always been essential for the health, safety and well-being of our community; and,
WHEREAS, during the ongoing pandemic, they have been on the front lines, risking their lives and their families' lives to provide quality, compassionate patient care to all in Dane and surrounding counties; and,
WHEREAS, COVID-19 has intensified deep-seated, systemic problems in the UW Health system, which have been worsening for years, ever since the administration stopped recognizing the nurses' union; and,
WHEREAS, for decades, nurses had a strong union and a solid contract, and were able to work collaboratively with management--without fear of retaliation--to ensure the highest standards of excellence at UW Health; and,
WHEREAS, after passage of the anti-worker Wisconsin law Act 10, the administration failed to negotiate a new agreement with the nurses' union when their contract expired in 2014; and,
WHEREAS, since then nurses have been struggling with deteriorating staff-to-patient ratios, decreased continuing education benefits, rising healthcare costs, issues with scheduling, difficulties with recruitment and retention, and have had no independent voice to resolve these issues; and,
WHEREAS, the pandemic continues to aggravate the crisis-level nursing shortage in our state, in which there could be 10,000 empty positions by the end of this decade; and,
WHEREAS, the strong majority of nurses signed cards in 2019 expressing their desire to be represented by SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, and presented those cards to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority board, but the board refused to recognize their union; and,
WHEREAS, the foremost labor attorneys in the state have thoroughly reviewed current law, inclu...
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