Meriter Nurses Reach Tentative Deal After Strike

Nurses at UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital in Madison ended a five-day strike after reaching a tentative agreement with hospital management, following extensive negotiations and public demonstrations. The tentative deal includes an 8% wage increase over two years, new safety protocols to address workplace violence, and improved contractual language on staffing and security, including a unit-based framework for nurse-management collaboration. The agreement does not mandate fixed nurse-to-patient ratios but addresses key concerns raised by the nurses. Organized by SEIU Wisconsin, the strike focused on safer staffing, better compensation, and stronger workplace protections. The contract still requires ratification by union members, but both sides have described the agreement as meaningful progress. The strike drew strong community support and renewed calls for broader staffing reforms.