Wisconsin Court Reviews UW Health Unionization Case

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is evaluating a case that could require UW Health to recognize a nurses' union, challenging the restrictions set by Act 10, a 2011 law that eliminated collective bargaining rights for most public employees. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) argues that UW Health should be considered a private entity under the Wisconsin Employment Peace Act, which would allow collective bargaining, despite Act 10's removal of UW Health from this act. The case stems from a 2022 ruling by the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission which stated that UW Health was not legally required to recognize the union, prompting SEIU to appeal. UW Health contends that Act 10's intent was to prevent such union recognition, while SEIU maintains that the hospital operates like a private entity. This legal battle reflects a broader effort to challenge and potentially weaken Act 10's limitations on labor rights in Wisconsin.