Following months of contract negotiations between UnityPoint Health–Meriter union members and hospital management, roughly 500 of the lowest-paid union workers will receive raises of almost 10% over the next two years, according to The Capital Times.
The news comes after an informational picket held earlier this month, during which union workers said they would be willing to strike if management did not meet their demands for increased staffing levels, raises, and more.
The parties last week reached a tentative agreement on a contract that would increase pay by an average of 9.55% over two years; on Monday, workers voted in favor of ratification.
The union says wages will go up by 3.75% starting with the next pay period and rise by another 3.5% in May 2025. Those raises are on top of step increases Meriter workers already receive annually, which average 1.15%.
Additional data shared by the union showed the starting wage for most of the positions covered is $17–20. According to management, non-union employees in some other hospital positions are paid less.
