UW Nurses Fighting For Quality Care and Our Union

We are 2600+ registered nurses at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin who are fighting for quality patient care and recognition of our union. We are front line workers and experts in our field. UW Health is a Level 1 Trauma Center which is vital to our entire healthcare system and we have worked through a global pandemic. We must have a seat at the table in decision making so we can advocate for our community and ourselves.

We have asked for the past 2 ½ years for our union to be recognized. We have repeatedly requested that the UW Health Board and administration meet with us and discuss this issue. We have gained community and political support, including that of Governor Evers. And recently, the WI Attorney General issued a formal legal opinion stating UW Health can recognize our union.

Our time of waiting is over and we are ready to do whatever it takes to win our union, including a possible strike. Please contribute to our UW Nurses Solidarity Fund to support nurses who may face financial hardship during a work stoppage. With your help we can win:

Safe Staffing

Quality patient care

Working conditions that retain and attract nurses

Full recognition of our union without retaliation

This Solidarity Fund is organized by UW Health nurse Mary Jorgensen on behalf of all our nurse coworkers and is being administered by a group of UW nurses. We thank you for your generous support.

The fund is being hosted with the full awareness and cooperation of SEIU and the SEIU Wisconsin State Council. We are hosting it on GoFundMe to make it easier for family, friends and supporters to donate directly to our fight and to ensure funds are available for our members as rapidly as possible. The funds will be distributed on a need basis, based on strict criteria, and will be fairly administered by a panel of UW nurses. If there are funds left over, the remainder will be kept in a bank account dedicated to UW nurses and saved for relief during future actions.

We cannot accept funds from private sector employers or anonymous donations. By making a donation to this cause, you hereby affirm that you are not an employer and that you will not make an anonymous donation. Funds determined to have come from private sector employers or donated anonymously will have to be returned to the donor.

Recent press coverage

Nurses seeking union at UW Health raise their campaign’s public profile

UW Health Nurses Rally for Union Recognition

Wisconsin AG opinion finds UW Health can voluntarily recognize nurses union