Nurses in Dane County Clinics Push for Unionization Amid Staffing and Training Concerns
In a significant move toward unionization, nurses from ten outpatient clinics in Dane County are taking steps to form a union, drawing inspiration from a similar initiative at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.
This week, a petition was submitted to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), seeking approval for a union election. These nurses are employed at various outpatient clinics under the SSM Health Dean Medical Group, which operates throughout south central Wisconsin as part of the SSM Health network.
The proposed bargaining unit, according to the NLRB, would encompass approximately 380 nurses specializing in fields such as cancer treatment, urgent care, family medicine, and surgery.
Krissy Butor, an outpatient surgery nurse, emphasized the necessity of unionization, stating, “The time has come for us to form our union so our voices are actually heard and we can create real change.” She highlighted key areas for improvement, including staffing, fair compensation to retain experienced nurses, and enhanced training for new staff.
Similarly, Jennifer Loney, a nurse at the Dean South Madison Campus, voiced the need for “appropriate staffing levels, sufficient training, and support” within the clinics.
SSM Health, through a spokesperson, acknowledged the rights of its employees regarding union membership, stating, “We greatly value our nurses and the important contributions they make every day. Our focus remains on supporting them and continuing to provide exceptional care for our patients and the communities we serve.”
This unionization effort arises while SSM Health is contesting the NLRB’s certification of a union vote at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison. In June, nurses at the hospital overwhelmingly voted 511-63 to unionize, a result which the NLRB officially certified late last month.
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