Nearly 1,000 registered nurses (RNs) at UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital represented by the Service Employees International Union of Wisconsin (SEIU WI) on Friday gave the hospital a 10-day notice of their intention to go on strike.
The RNs, who have been in union contract negotiations with UnityPoint Health-Meriter since January, are demanding staffing solutions that prioritize nurse and patient safety, compensation to attract and retain nurses, improved security practices at the hospital and resolutions to multiple unfair labor practice charges filed by SEIU WI against the hospital.
UnityPoint Health-Meriter released the following statement in response to the notice:
“UnityPoint Health-Meriter has received notice that the SEIU WI, who represents many of our registered nurses, plans a strike effective 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, through 6:59 a.m. on Sunday, June 1. While we do not believe a strike is in the best interest of our ongoing negotiations with the union, we respect our team members and their rights.
“Contract negotiations started in early February 2025, and we are committed to reaching a fair contract agreement. We are disheartened that the union has chosen to use such a disruptive tactic, as we know that a work stoppage can cause stress on our team members and our community.
“Safe patient care remains our priority, and our reputation for providing high-quality care will not be compromised. We have a contingency plan to ensure that normal operations continue at the hospital and outlying facilities, which includes detailed staffing plans, coordination with vendors and security plans. Our patients’ experience remains paramount.
“Meriter is committed to reaching a contract that recognizes the critical contributions of our team members, while balancing our fiscal responsibility to the organization. We believe our most recent proposal will continue to keep Meriter nurses as some of the best-paid nurses in Wisconsin, as well as the top-paid nurses in our local community.
“The current Meriter proposal offers an average 3.68% wage increase in 2025 and 2026. We are also offering an increased hourly differential rate that includes night, weekend and on-call shifts. With the proposed wage increases, an average full-time nurse would see their annual base salary grow from about $101,300 to over $108,900 over two years. These estimates do not include additional pay like shift differentials or premiums.
“In addition, we offer competitive benefits, like paid time off (up to seven weeks per year for longtime nurses), tuition assistance, access to a comprehensive wellness program and full health and dental benefits for nurses who work 20 hours per week or more. We have a reinvigorated and robust Shared Governance model to ensure our nurses’ voices are elevated and heard.
“We are committed to supporting our team members as we continue negotiations, and we hope to reach an agreement soon.”
