>> Leading up to this Labor Day picket lines in
Janesville. That's where more than 130 health care
workers are on strike. In a contract dispute with
Mercyhealth. The workers are members of UAW local 95.
Local 95. President Judy McRoberts joins us now. And
thanks very much for being here, Judy.
>> So this strike started July 2nd 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 of their building and themselves and
the patients. The. We have an urgent care in this
building, and it's open until 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, this facility at night.
We've also had some one of our nurses come in for an
urgent care shift and went to the break room. And
here's somebody was sitting had 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. We've
asked for at least security cameras or security cameras,
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
Mercyhealth over, over that issue?
>> I have no idea. But one thing I do want to point
out is the first day that we had our pickets set up,
our peaceful picketing picket line was that have
had no problems whatsoever. 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? >> They did it for for a
wage increase. But the the wage increase that they
asked for is barely cost. 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, with with the wage increase
it barely covers. 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 in the initial negotiations, which is a
slap in the face. >> The issues that you're
pressing, common concerns among health care workers
generally. >> I believe so. They've
had several issues at the hospitals that people have
been unruly. I mean, what what happens if you're in
an urgent care at night and somebody becomes unruly? I
mean, you have nobody there. You know, most of those
people are not equipped to fight off someone who's
it's a common thing that security should be, should
be, should be in medical facilities everywhere.
>> What about for your striking members? How are
they faring? As as the weeks go on?
>> They are they are they're concerned, but
they're not willing to give up the fight. We're 95%
union facility. And like 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 that 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