Morning Update

The road to unionization

Morning update: Tuesday, Sept. 13

In this newsletter

Good morning, Madison!

In case you missed it, we announced some pretty big news yesterday: Pivotal Health is our newest presenting sponsor.

Who? Pivotal Health (based in Middleton) provides in-person urgent care, primary care, and mental health services at home or work.

We're incredibly excited about this partnership. Learn more about it in the link below.

— Hayley

Madison Minutes thanks our advertising partners. Become one.

🏥 UW Health nurses have called off their strike.

After five days of mediation, UW Health nurses have come to an agreement with hospital administration to avert a planned three-day strike, which would have started today.
Does this mean the nurses will get a union? Not quite. The agreement lays out the legal groundwork for the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) to decide if UW Health is covered under Wisconsin’s Employment Peace Act, which gives employees the right to form and join a union. State Attorney General Josh Kaul issued a non-binding opinion in June that said the hospital could legally engage in collective bargaining.
What's next? The WERC will rule on whether UW Health can recognize and bargain with the union. But as the State Journal reports, either side can challenge the WERC ruling, which means we might end up seeing the decision play out in court.
Dig deeper: UW nurses say the chaotic conditions at the height of COVID never eased. Now, they're set to strike in an effort to form a union. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
The bigger picture: From cooks to nurses, Wisconsinites are organizing for better work (Cap Times)

📣 Crushin’ It Apparel workers have filed for a union election.

Some background: In August, workers at the local screen printing company presented the business's owner with a letter demanding timely pay and better working conditions. Cap Times reports nine workers were laid off — then later reinstated — because they refused to remove their names from the letter. This prompted workers to picket the south side business.
Workers filed a union petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Sept. 3. If their boss doesn't voluntarily recognize the union, the petition will trigger an election.
The complaints: Workers allege that Crushin’ It Apparel's owner regularly paid employees late or faulty checks. Cap Times reports workers have repeatedly had checks returned by their banks. Employees also say conditions in the facility are too hot and dirty.

🚔 Have thoughts on the police budget?

The city's Public Safety Review Committee will host a virtual public hearing on the proposed police budget Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The committee is looking for input on the following questions: What are the top three tasks/issues that MPD should focus on? Given that over 80% of the police budget goes towards personnel costs, is there a task(s) that MPD currently does that it should not? If so, what other city department or entity should be responsible for that task(s)? What research can the Public Safety Review Committee provide that would help you better understand the Police Budget and the processes by which it gets created?
You can register for the meeting here.

🎸 Live music is coming back to Crystal Corner.

After a Covid-19-induced hiatus, the Willy Street bar will start hosting live shows again Sept. 24, Tone Madison reports.
The bar has a full lineup booked through November, you can check it out here.

😻 Happy Take Me Home Tuesday! Meet Daisy.

From DCHS: This 10-year-old cat is a friendly girl. Once she becomes comfortable, she's very loyal and enjoys being showered with attention and pets. She also likes giving snuggles. Daisy is looking for a quieter home where she can relax. Her adoption fee has been paid thanks to a generous donor.
Learn more about Daisy here.

Via Madison365: "[Monday], a new exhibit [...] opened to the public at the Chazen Museum of Art on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The culmination of multiple years of research and planning, the UW-Madison Public History Project exhibit looks to ask questions about the real history of UW-Madison itself. The Public History Project looks to give voice to a lesser-known history of UW-Madison through students, staff, and associates of the university who have been affected by marginalization across identities."

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