Leading up to this Labor Day, picket lines, in Janesville, that's where more than one
hundred thirty healthcare workers are on strike in a contract dispute with Mercy Health.
The workers are members of UAW Local 95, Local 95 President Judy McRoberts joins us now.
And thanks very much for being here, Judy.
Oh, thank you.
So this strike started July 2 and is now coming into month three.
Why are your members on strike?
Well, one of their main concerns is safety and the security of their building and themselves and the patients.
So we have an urgent care in this building and it's open into the evening and we've had people out in the parking lot panhandling and asking for rides and so on.
And it's scary for the women who are leaving this facility at night.
We've also had one of our nurses come in for an urgent care.
Shift and went to the break room and here's somebody was sitting has was staying in the break room and so that we there was no security in the building and that's not only unsafe for employees, that's unsafe for our patients.
And so what is go ahead?
What have you asked for?
We've asked for at least security cameras or security cameras to security officers to be in the building to in the morning and at least in the evening to make sure the building is secure.
And people can get out safely.
Why is it proving so hard to settle with Mercy Health over over that issue?
I have no idea, but the one thing I do want to point out is the first day that we had our picket set up, our peaceful picket line was that have had no problems.
Once, however, they've had security out there for their people coming in the building and worrying about their building being vandalized, which is pretty sad.
Are there issues around pay and benefits as well or is it most specifically about safety?
No, no, we they did it for a wage increase, but the wage increase that they asked for is barely cause the cost of everything that's gone up in our country.
Everybody sees that, but also they raised their their premiums for their Mercy Care Health Insurance, which is their their insurance, Mercy's insurance, and they raised the rates.
And with with the reason with with the wage increase, it barely covers.
How long could this how long could this strike last?
It could last as long as it needs to. I mean, we, the UAW is is backing these people. We're not asking for, we're not asking for anything that's unreasonable.
We're just asking for a fair agreement. And the last agreement, the last negotiations we had, they actually offered us less than they they offered in the initial negotiations, which is a slap in the face.
A lot of people might be wondering. It looks like a union busting tactic to me.
A lot of people might be wondering why our health care workers represented by the United Auto Workers.
Well, what happened was they they organized. I don't know why they organized. We all this is an amalgamated union. We have we have credit unions.
We have a factory in white water that makes meat slicers. So UAW goes in a lot of different, a lot of different ways. There's a lot of people in nursing and credit unions and all over that are different being amalgamated. You can, you could be through that.
Are the issues that you're pressing common concerns among health care workers generally?
I believe so. I mean, they've had, I've seen lately in the paper and I don't know if it's, if it's, if this is the coming trend. I mean, my gosh, the way the world has come to you have worry about everything all the time with guns and, and so on.
But they've had, they've had several issues at the hospitals that people have been unruly. I mean, what, what happens if you're an urgent care at night and somebody becomes an early? I mean, you have nobody there.
You know, the most of those people are not equipped to fight off someone who's, who's violent.
So I think it's a coming thing that security should be, should be, should be in medical facilities everywhere.
What will happen to patient care if this strikes stretches on?
I don't know if patient care right now, we've had a lot of complaints from a lot of people that, that had appointments. Like we tell people, they asked, they don't want to cross the picket line.
If you need to be seen, you need to go. This is, this, you know, you take care of yourself first. I mean, we don't, we don't promote them to cross the line and go there.
But the people who have gone there have felt that their, their care that they're getting is, is not what, not what it used to be.
What about, they have, they have, they have tables set up that they do a makeshift receptionist or taking, or taking their, their personal records and talking and there's somebody right there.
It's, it's, you have no privacy.
Well, what about for your striking members? How are they faring as, as the weeks go on?
Some were, some are, some are, are more worried than others. You know, some are, some are have spouses and that have, they have jobs. They are getting strikes.
And, but, you know, you have the singles and the single mothers and, and, and maybe in single fathers. I'm not sure about that. But, you know, that issue is that, you know, they are.
They are, they are concerned, but they're not willing to give up the fight. We're 95% union facility. And, so I said, we're just looking for a fair agreement.
We're not asking for anything. Unbelievable. I mean, we, we're talking about a CEO in a nonprofit that is making $13 million a year.
And has 12 vice presidents are making $450,000 a year plus their perks. That's, that's, that's horrible. When you don't want to pay these people a decent living rate, where, living wage.
Judy McRoberts, president of Local 95. Thanks very much for joining us.
Okay. Thank you. When asked for comment, Mercy Health provided their original statement released in late June from Vice President Jenny Hallet saying quote,
throughout our negotiations with the union, we have always treated our 137 partners at Mercy Health East in a fair and equitable manner,
consistent with our other 8,000 plus employee partners. Unfortunately, the union has rejected our offer.
Thank you.
Well, thank you. Thank you, Judy. I really appreciate you joining us. And we will thank you very much as well.
We will keep up on what is going going on with your work action. Thank you.
Oh, thank you very much.
Okay.
Okay, thank you very much. I'll get those to you.
Okay.
I hope it was, I hope it turns out well.
Okay, one you as well. Okay. Have a good weekend. Thanks. Okay. Bye.
On camera or not?
When asked for comment, Mercy Health provided their original statement released in late June from Vice President Jenny Hallet saying quote,
throughout our negotiations with the union, we have always treated our 137 partners at Mercy Health East in a fair and equitable manner,
consistent with our other 8,000 plus employee partners. Unfortunately, the union has rejected our offer.
Thank you very much.