the Union Difference

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER

Across the country, nearly 80,000 nurses united in SEIU are leading the fight for justice, raising standards of care, and improving nursing jobs at clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and home care.

But we don’t have to look far to see the union difference. Nurses and other healthcare workers united in SEIU Wisconsin are leading the way toward better care and better care jobs in our state.

MERITER NURSES MAKE HISTORY

Just last year, Meriter Hospital nurses won a historic contract with:

  • Transparent and clear pay scale with yearly salary increases guaranteed for up to 34 years of experience (see pay scale below). A brand new nurse at Meriter makes $41.36 an hour.

  • A 14% raise over two years.

  • A $1500 retention bonus.

  • An additional $1.50/hour for time spent training new nurses.

  • A nurse voice in staffing, scheduling, and floating.

  • Unit Work Design Teams that evaluate unit-specific scheduling options and pilot creative scheduling solutions, and require member feedback after the pilot and before final decisions are made.

  • Scheduling Solutions Committee of nurses and hospital admin who work collaboratively to reach creative scheduling solutions with input from nurses through Unit Work Design Teams

  • Cluster Float Task Force to refine cluster floating and review and modify current cluster float groups.

  • Annual meetings between hospital administration and unit nurses to review staffing models and matrices and address concerns. These reviews may include, but are not limited to:

    • Hours Per Patient Day (HPPD)

    • Charge nurse assignments

    • Admission / Discharge / Transfer (ADT) activity

    • Care variable tools

    These meetings may result in updates aimed at addressing staffing matrices and enhancing staffing strategies.

    RNs play a central role in this process by contributing their clinical expertise and frontline perspectives. Their insights help shape recommendations that support and sustain safe and effective staffing levels across all units.

  • The United Professionals/Nursing Administrative Council (UP/NAC) is a regular joint meeting between union leadership and hospital administration designed to maintain open communication and resolve mutual concerns.

The Meriter contract provides for:

See Meriter nurses’ full contract here.

Learn more about what our colleagues have accomplished united in SEIU Wisconsin here.