They started organizing in 2019. COVID shut them down. They started again. Then again. Management took down their flyers, told nurses they could not discuss the union despite federal law protecting that right and threatened workers with suspension for wearing a badge reel that said Nurses United. In June 2026, more than 800 nurses at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, voted 89% for SEIU Wisconsin. On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, labor and delivery nurse Emily Berceau tells the full story of the multi-year organizing campaign at SSM Health, the management tactics nurses faced at every turn, what the first contract fight looks like now that the vote is won and what she would say to any worker going through their own organizing battle. Her answer: a union is made up of average workers pushing together for something better. Solidarity is power. Visit seiuwi.org for more.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related