Meriter Nurses Strike For Better Working Conditions and Pay

Frederica Freyberg:
On the picket line, hundreds of nurses at Meriter Hospital in Madison went out on strike Tuesday. Negotiations resumed Thursday and Friday, even in the midst of picketing.

People chanting:
Mighty, mighty union. Mighty, mighty union

Frederica Freyberg:
In the hospital’s first ever strike, the nurses called for a wage hike higher than the 3.68% offered, better security and better patient to staff ratios. Meriter says throughout the strike, the hospital has remained fully operational and is running smoothly with the hiring of travel nurses. SEIU represents nearly 1,000 nurses at the hospital. The union filed an unfair labor practices complaint against Meriter over threats to strip striking nurses of benefits.

Amber Anderson:
There’s a lot of people rallying around health care workers, especially after COVID, and we are finally standing up for ourselves and fighting for what we need and deserve.

Annette Bernas:
We just want what’s best. We love what we do, and we’re here trying to advocate for what’s best for our patients.