From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— SSM Health nurses have filed new charges with the National Labor Relations Board against their employer amid a unionization effort, alleging the health system is conducting surveillance on them and threatening retaliation.
SEIU Wisconsin yesterday announced the “expanded charges” brought by hundreds of nurses at St. Mary’s Hospital and Dean Medical Group clinics, who voted by 89% and 71%, respectively, in favor of joining the union. The labor group alleges SSM Health has broken federal law in its treatment of employed nurses.
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for SSM Health disputed the union’s claim, saying “there has been no unlawful conduct.” The spokesperson noted SEIU Wisconsin has made similar allegations in the past that were later dismissed by the NLRB.
“We respect and value all of our employees … We see SEIU’s allegations as another ongoing attempt to distract us from our mission to provide exceptional patient care,” the spokesperson wrote.
SSM Health has repeatedly denied violating federal labor laws in response to the union’s allegations. The employer has alleged there were “unresolved questions regarding the election process” for St. Mary’s nurses in justifying earlier appeals to the unionization effort.
Meanwhile, SEIU says the new charges include firing nurses for pro-union advocacy, compelling nurses to attend “anti-union” meetings, threatening to alter terms of employment for those who vote to join the union, surveilling nurses, destroying union materials and barring the display of such information and insignias.
Nurses at St. Mary’s had previously filed NLRB charges against SSM Health in September for retaliation and “refusing to begin” required contract negotiations.
Michelle Camilleri, a nurse at the SSM Health Dean Medical Group South Madison Campus, describes a “widespread” crisis across the health system’s facilities. She says she’s also worked at St. Mary’s Hospital and other Dean clinics.
“Very often, I was floated to a clinic and I’d be the only nurse there for up to 30 patients, sometimes without adequate orientation or training,” she said in a statement provided by the union. “That astronomical workload causes so much wear and tear on your body and mind, and it’s deeply unfair to the patients we serve.”
See the release below.
— Rockwell Automation is joining leading companies in the pharmaceutical industry as a founding member of the Digital CMC Consortium, seeking to speed up drug development with better technical coordination.
The Milwaukee-based company yesterday announced its participation in the industry effort, which also includes Novartis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Takeda and other major firms.
Described as a not-for-profit, “pre-competitive” industry collaboration, the consortium is focused on chemistry, manufacturing and controls, or CMC activities. These outline the development, manufacturing and testing process for drugs to ensure consistency, though Rockwell says they’re a “longstanding bottleneck” in the drug development process.
The company points to a lack of process standardization for CMC, along with continued reliance on manual work. Matt Weaver, vice president of global industry – life sciences for Rockwell, says the consortium reflects the “partner-driven approach needed” to advance the industry.
“Digital transformation in life sciences is not just about technology adoption, it is about building new ways of working that improve how therapies are developed and delivered,” Weaver said in a statement.
Yesterday’s announcement notes therapies are becoming more complex and personalized, arguing CMC must “evolve into structured, digital systems” that accelerate technology transfer while supporting seamless information sharing and decision-making.
Consortium members say they’re moving toward broader industry adoption following an initial year of proof-of-concept work, starting with a focus on digital tech transfer and “structured knowledge exchange” between contract development and manufacturing organizations and others.
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— Marshfield Clinic has received a $580,000 federal grant for mental health training and community outreach efforts, with a focus on Wisconsin counties with higher rates of depression, anxiety and other challenges.
The care provider, part of Sanford Health since the merger in 2025, this week announced the three-year Mental Health Awareness Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Marshfield Clinic says it will use the funding to provide mental health training for community members and staff, conduct outreach and awareness efforts at the community level, and develop behavioral health referral pathways to connect people with services. The grant will also help fund a behavioral health navigator position for this purpose.
Meanwhile, “special implementation efforts” will target Barron, Clark, Oneida, Price, Rusk, and Vilas counties, according to the announcement. It notes locals face healthcare shortages, transportation challenges, a “fragmented” referral system, leading to higher rates of mental health issues including suicide risk.
Beyond those target counties, Marshfield Clinic says it will improve the community capacity to respond to mental health crises across a 17-county region of northern, central and western Wisconsin.
Jay Shrader, vice president of community impact and social accountability, says mental health “continues to be a significant need in many of the communities we serve,” and the new funding will boost ongoing efforts to address it.
See the release below.
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– Marshfield Clinic: Awarded $580,000 grant to address mental health in rural Wisconsin
