Special Messages

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.