UW Health nurses and others applaud an agreement announced Monday at the state Capitol to avert a nurses' strike that had been scheduled to start Tuesday. Leading the announcement were Dr. Alan Kaplan, CEO, UW Health, front left; UW Health nurse Colin Gillis, front center; and Gov. Tony Evers.
After days of state mediation followed by weekend discussions at the Governor's Mansion, UW Health nurses and administrators agreed to regularly discuss workplace concerns as a state agency and the courts likely will determine if the health system can recognize a union the nurses have tried to revive.
UW Health nurse and union organizer Colin Gillis said that while UW Health has not yet officially recognized the union, a new agreement means nurses are "resetting our relationship with UW Health from one of dispute to one of productive conversation.”
Here are key points of the UW Health agreement with SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, according to UW Health:
• SEIU will cancel the work stoppage scheduled for this week and refrain from any further work stoppages until the conclusion of a regulatory/legal process to review whether UW Health is covered by the Wisconsin Peace Act and can collectively bargain with a union.
• SEIU and UW Health will jointly petition the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission for a ruling on whether the Peace Act applies to UW Hospital.
• Both parties retain full rights to pursue further clarification through the courts, including through a direct petition to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
• In exchange for SEIU’s agreement that it shall not engage in the current work stoppage, or any other work stoppage until there is a definitive ruling on disputed legal issues, UW Health agreed to engage with SEIU in a good faith “meet and discuss” process while any court proceedings are pending. These are non-binding discussions to facilitate the open sharing of information.
• Further actions will be determined based on the rulings from WERC and from the courts.
UW Health nurses and others applaud an agreement announced Monday at the state Capitol to avert a nurses' strike that had been scheduled to start Tuesday. Leading the announcement were Dr. Alan Kaplan, CEO, UW Health, front left; UW Health nurse Colin Gillis, front center; and Gov. Tony Evers.
UW Health nurse and union organizer Colin Gillis said that while UW Health has not yet officially recognized the union, a new agreement means nurses are "resetting our relationship with UW Health from one of dispute to one of productive conversation.”
