Special Messages

UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital

Meriter Registered Nurses Strike Information

Read the latest news and updates from Meriter during the ongoing nurse’s strike. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience as we navigate our hospital, team members, providers and patients through this situation. Rest assured, our hospital and clinics are open and ready to serve you.

FAQsFor the Media

FAQs

I heard Meriter nurses are striking, is that true?

Yes, beginning 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27 through 6:59 a.m. on Sunday, June 1 SEIU Wisconsin has announced they will strike.

What do patients and families need to know?

Our patients and visitors once inside the building will see “business as usual” but with a bit more activity in the common areas with additional security measures in place. You will need to check into the front desk, receive a sticker/badge and receive instructions on your appointment or visit details.

Please allow some extra time for parking. There may be extra traffic and people around area the hospital or clinics, but that is to be expected. Strike protesters cannot be on private property or come into the hospital. Maybe plan to arrive a few minutes earlier than you had planned in case traffic is difficult. Our parking ramp and valet service will be available with direct access to the hospital.

We encourage all team members, patients, and visitors whether driving or walking to be alert for traffic safety. Please use caution, follow traffic rules, avoid cell phone use while driving, and follow security or police directions for safety.

Everyone’s safety is of the utmost importance. Meriter will have enhanced security measures in place to ensure the safety of team members, patients, contractors, and other visitors throughout the strike.


Will my appointment, procedure, or scheduled surgery still take place?

Yes, unless a patient is contacted directly, all scheduled procedures and appointments are taking place as scheduled. To ensure uninterrupted high-quality care during this period, we have contracted with a firm that specializes in providing highly skilled and experienced nursing professionals. This proactive measure allows the team of nurses to arrive before the strike begins. Onboarding started in mid-May for these temporary team members.

Please allow some extra time for parking. There may be extra traffic and people around area the hospital or clinics, but that is to be expected. Strike protesters cannot be on private property or come into the hospital. Maybe plan to arrive a few minutes earlier than you had planned in case traffic is difficult. Meriter is prepared for the strike. The hospital and clinics will remain open to take care of patients as usual with the support of specialized nursing team and our existing staff members.


How do you prepare for your nurses to go on strike?

We’ve been planning for this potential issue for more than six months and for the past several weeks our teams have been intensely working on the strike readiness plan. To ensure uninterrupted high-quality care during this period, we have contracted with a firm that specializes in providing highly skilled and experienced nursing professionals. This proactive measure allows the team of nurses to arrive before the strike begins.

A few things to remember:

  • Not all nursing staff are represented by the union; therefore, there will be Meriter nursing staff who will not be participating in the strike.
  • Some bargaining unit nurses may choose to work.
  • We have also hired additional security to protect our staff and patients from protest activities outside the hospital.
  • Meriter RN’s bargain a new contract every two years, so we are well versed in this type of preparation to ensure our community maintains access to excellent healthcare.

Are you closing the hospital?

No. Meriter is not closing. Every team member within Meriter is prepping to ensure the hospital and all other facilities remain open. Meriter plans to continue all hospital, CAP, NewStart and clinic operations during the strike, and we are confident patients will continue to receive exceptional care.

A few things to remember:

  • Not all nursing staff are represented by the union; therefore, there will be Meriter nursing staff who will not be participating in the strike.
  • Some bargaining unit nurses may choose to work.
  • We have spent months preparing to maintain normal operations at the hospital and outlying facilities should a strike occur.
  • To ensure uninterrupted high-quality care during this period, we have contracted with a firm that specializes in providing highly skilled and experienced nursing professionals. This proactive measure allows the team of nurses to arrive before the strike begins.
  • We have also hired additional security to protect our staff and patients from protest activities outside the hospital.

What rules do protesters need to follow?

Enhanced security, including additional security staffing will be present during the week.

  • In a strike, the SEIU can put reasonable lines of pickets on public property (not private) at the hospital or other work locations. The union is forbidden, by law, from interfering in any manner with anyone desiring to enter or leave work. Pickets must not block a door, passageway, or other entrance or exit.
  • Security officers will make every effort to permit individuals and vehicles to move in and out of the hospital and other targeted work locations in a normal manner.
  • Union officials or picketers have a right to talk to people going in or out of where the strike is occurring. Intimidation, threats and coercion are not permitted, either by verbal remarks or physical action. Should anyone experience any of these actions, they should notify Security immediately and, if necessary, the local law enforcement agency. We will take appropriate action against individuals committing inappropriate activities.
  • Security and escort services will be provided for all providers and team members to and from the parking lot and other designated locations, upon request.

Who can be at the hospital during a strike?

Facility access during the strike is consistent with our standing Patient Visitation and Other Facility Access policy. Only working team members, patients and approved visitors are permitted on Meriter property.

We encourage all team members, patients, and visitors whether driving or walking to be alert for traffic safety. Please use caution, follow traffic rules, avoid cell phone use while driving, and follow security or police directions for safety.

Are there any changes to parking, shuttle or valet services?

Please note some changes to our shuttle and parking during the strike period.

  • Hospital Parking Ramp will remain open
  • Employee Shuttle change beginning May 27:
    • The employee shuttle will operate during regular hours, with one service change: Hospital drop-off and pick-up will occur at the main hospital entrance and horseshoe.
  • Employee Parking change beginning May 27:
    • Trinity Lot will be closed – parkers may use the hospital ramp.
    • Park Regent will be closed – parkers may use the hospital ramp or their Park Regent assignment.
    • Braxton and 1 S. Park team members should continue using your normal assignment.
  • Valet services will continue to be open to serve our patients.
  • Parking at our Clinics/CAP/Outbuildings remain open.
  • Upon request, security and escort services will be available for all providers and team members to and from the parking lot and other designated locations.
  • As with our normal daily parking operations, unauthorized vehicles may be ticketed or towed at the operator or owner's expense. If parking access is not accessible or a safety problem arises, please report to security or Incident Command. The hospital ramp may be used as a back-up. Otherwise, please use your assigned parking location unless otherwise noted.

For the Media

This page is intended for news media to receive the most up-to-date information and facts related to the ongoing RN strike being conducted by the SEIU. We will post daily updates at 11 a.m. once the strike is implemented to capture news of the day.

If you have an urgent media request, please email Nicole.aimone@unitypoint.org. Otherwise, we ask that you utilize this page for the updates we are able to provide. Due to the demands of daily hospital operations and heightened security, we are limiting on-location access for media. No walk-through tours or inside access is available. Please remain respectful of our staff, patients and family members.

Media Assets

Media Boilerplate: UnityPoint Health – Meriter provides convenient, personal care to patients in hospital and clinic settings. As a partner of UW Health and affiliate of UnityPoint Health, we are devoted to showing our people and communities how much they matter. We offer primary and specialty care, have the busiest birthing center in Wisconsin and are regularly recognized for outstanding quality and patient experience. 

We are proud to be part of UnityPoint Health, providing care throughout Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Visit us at unitypoint.org and facebook.com/meriter.