Following the success of Democratic candidates in last week’s midterm elections, UW Health nurses are vowing to pass the Patient Care and Worker Empowerment Act.
The measure would restore full collective bargaining rights for thousands of nurses and over 25,000 total UW Health employees.
Nurses say the passage of Act 10 in 2011 led to the termination of union contracts for UW Health nurses and other workers.
Nurses at UW Health re-established their union in 2022 but are seeking legislative action to codify collective bargaining rights into law.
“UW nurses have been fighting for years to regain our full union rights to advocate for our patients and profession, and now we are so excited that we have a new day and the rays of hope are shining,” Amy Plaza-Baji, who has been a registered nurse for 12 years and works both in UW clinics and UW Health University Hospital, said in a press release.
Plaza-Baji said unionization has improved the quality of care and passage of the Patient Care and Worker Empowerment Act (Senate Bill 965-Assembly Bill 999) would provide unionized nurses with the strongest voice at the bargaining table.
“It’s just common sense to listen to and involve frontline staff in the decision-making process about how we do our jobs and deliver care,” she said. “We’re enthusiastic about further building our productive relationship with UW Health to ensure we’re the very best place to work and receive care.”
Democrats not only held on to the governor’s office with the election of David Crowley, but they also now hold majorities in both the state Assembly and the state Senate.
Crowley and the new Democratic legislative majority will take office in January.
