From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— The National Labor Relations Board has shut down objections by Rogers Behavioral Health to a recent union election in West Allis, as labor organizers tout “another defeat” for the employer.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers today applauded the decision from NLRB Regional Director Jennifer Hadsall to overrule the objections raised by Rogers, noting she found “no merit” to the employer’s claims.
The care provider had argued the vote was influenced by workers wearing costumes on their lunch break on the day of the election at the West Allis treatment center, as well as three previously “illegally fired” workers entering the site to vote in the election, according to the NUHW.
Of the 68 eligible voters in the election, 53 voted for unionizing while four voted against, the decision shows. While nine ballots were challenged, that wasn’t enough to influence the outcome of the election.
NUHW President Vanessa Coe argues the employer has taken “both illegal and immoral” actions against its Wisconsin workers, including retaliating against employees amid the unionization effort and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on “union-busting” lawyers.
“When workers in California joined our union, Rogers willingly negotiated strong contracts that improved patient care, and it should do the same in Wisconsin,” Coe said in the release.
In response to the union, a spokesperson for Rogers Behavioral Health said the employer is aware the NLRB has certified the NUHW as the bargaining representative for a group of workers at its West Allis and Madison clinics.
“We respect all employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act, and all employment and labor practices are conducted in full accordance with applicable law and longstanding policies,” the spokesperson wrote in an email. “Rogers is unable to comment further on pending legal proceedings related to these certifications.”
NUHW says the unionization push began after Rogers moved to using AI to triage patients instead of licensed therapists, as well as ending one-on-one therapy for adults and doubling caseloads for providers. Today’s announcement also notes Rogers didn’t contest any union elections at locations in California or Philadelphia, adding it has “fiercely fought” the effort in Wisconsin.
See the release below.
— The Medical College of Wisconsin today announced a $50 million donation, matching the largest in the college’s history.
The donation funding precision medicine efforts came from John A. and Linda Mellowes and the Charter Manufacturing Foundation. Mellowes in 2013 stepped down from roles as chairman and CEO of Mequon-based metal products maker Charter Manufacturing.
The college previously received a $50 million donation in 2022 from the Kern Foundation, its largest single donation at the time.
MCW says it will use the donation to build data infrastructure needed for “world-class precision care,” bring top medical talent to Milwaukee and provide innovative medical education.
The dollars will also support precision medicine expert Dr. Marni Falk being brought on as executive director of the new Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Institute for Genomic Medicine and Precision Therapeutics, formerly the college’s Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine.
Meanwhile, MCW will rename its Hub for Collaborative Medicine, calling it the Medical College of Wisconsin Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Health Innovation Center.
“We are proud that we can get exceptional, innovative care right here in our hometown, and we want everyone to have that experience,” the Melloweses said in a joint statement.
See the release below.
— Wisconsin has now had at least 288 measles cases this year, after health officials recently said they were looking into five probable cases in Rock County.
The state Department of Health Services in late September tracked the largest spike in cases for a given week so far this year, with 59 confirmed patients reporting a rash starting the week of Sept. 20.
Meanwhile, DHS and Rock County officials last week said they were investigating five probable measles cases in the county, though they hadn’t yet been confirmed by laboratory testing.
Those suspected cases were related but not connected to the larger ongoing outbreak in the state’s southwestern region, according to DHS. The agency said the source of the infection remained unknown, and no public exposure notifications have followed, though people who may have been exposed were identified for direct follow-up.
Confirmed cases have been found in Chippewa, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Marathon, and Vernon counties since August. All but two have been among unvaccinated people, and six cases have resulted in hospitalization.
See the DHS measles page.
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