FRI AM News: WisBusiness: the Podcast with Megan Tanel, Association of Equipment Manufacturers; SEIU says SSM Health nurses have filed new charges against employer

October 9, 2026

— This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Megan Tanel, president and CEO of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

The group represents more than 1,100 members in North America across construction, agriculture, forestry, mining and utilities. That includes Caterpillar in South Milwaukee, Komatsu in Milwaukee’s Harbor District, C&H in Racine, Oshkosh Corporation and many more in Wisconsin.

Tanel says the state has about 135,000 jobs related to equipment manufacturing, including 25,800 direct manufacturing jobs.

Along with highlighting the role equipment production plays in Wisconsin and nationwide, she discusses how AEM members are navigating the latest tariff twists.

“Fair trade is something that we are 100% supportive of,” Tanel said. “You know, it’s not just that our members are manufacturing equipment to be here in Wisconsin or here in the United States, but a lot of this can get exported and that’s a really healthy balance in any company.”

Still, Tanel says AEM supports the goal of wanting to secure “better and fairer trade deals” with other countries, pointing to other governments propping up domestic industries.

“That’s not necessarily on-par, fair practice across the world,” she said.

But she said tariffs are also driving up costs, emphasizing impacts on specific components such as steel.

During last week’s G20 Trade Ministerial, AEM hosted the Canadian minister of trade in its Milwaukee office, bringing together officials with industry representatives to discuss tariff impacts and the trade relationship with Canada.

Tanel also addressed members of the Canadian government earlier this week, touting the importance of these ties.

“I don’t care what side of the border you’re on, USMCA — or as they say in Canada, CUSMA — is extremely important and we still support a lot of the initiatives that were in that last negotiated deal,” she said. “And can only hope that both Canada and U.S. can come back together and push the global tariff conversation to the side, and just focus on how we can continue to work with who’ve been our best trading partners.”

Listen to the podcast here and see the full list of WisBusiness podcasts.

— 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.

See more coverage.

— 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.

See more on the effort.

— State officials have announced $296,000 in grant funding to support financial literacy education at schools and community-based groups in Wisconsin.

The state Departments of Public Instruction and Financial Institutions yesterday rolled out the 29 Financial Literacy Innovation Grants, supporting classroom standards for personal financial literacy instruction.

The rollout also aims to drive compliance with Wisconsin Act 60, which requires schools in the state to offer a half-credit financial literacy graduation requirement starting with the class of 2028, according to the announcement.

Many grant recipients are also extending their programs beyond students to include their families and other community members, according to the agencies. DFI Secretary Wendy Baumann says the funding is also helping educators introduce “new and creative” financial literacy programs.

“These grants will help thousands of students expand their financial knowledge and become better prepared to make sound financial decisions as adults,” she said.

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