MADISON (WKOW) — Nearly 1,000 nurses at UnityPoint Health Meriter Hospital have given formal notice of their intent to walk off the job starting May 27th, if no tentative agreement is reached.
The nurses, represented by SEIU Healthcare WI, gave a 10-day strike notice to the hospital on Friday.
According to SEIU WI, the nurses have been in contract negotiations with UnityPoint Health Meriter since January and 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 Meriter.
UnityPoint Health said in a statement that it does not believe a strike is in the best interest of ongoing negotiations.
“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,” said Nicole Aimone, spokesperson for UnityPoint Health Meriter.
Aimone added that the hospital’s proposal would keep Meriter nurses among the highest paid in both the state and local area.
The current proposal includes an average wage increase of 3.68% in both 2025 and 2026, along with higher hourly differential rates for night, weekend, and on-call shifts. If approved, an average full-time nurse would see their annual base salary increase from approximately $101,300 to over $108,900 within two years, not including additional pay from shift differentials or premiums, the hospital noted.
