Madison Worker Cooperatives (MadWorC) GHC Resolution
Whereas, MadWorC stands in solidarity with organized labor, particularly on the local level that reflects our own cooperative values of worker rights and self-determination.
And whereas, There is a morale, retention, workload, and patient care crisis impacting workers in primary and urgent care at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin.
And whereas, The issues include serious patient care concerns, caregiver burnout, high turnover and chronic understaffing, unclear and unfair wage systems, racial inequities, lack of compensation for extra hours, unfair discipline, inadequate notice before being sent to other clinics, and lack of fair pay for extra duties like training other staff.
And whereas, On December 12, 2024 nearly 70% of GHC providers and nursing staff in primary and urgent care, plus closely-related units, filed for a union election to address these concerns.
And whereas, Rather than accepting a bargaining unit of GHC workers' rightful choice, GHC administration contested it, seeking to force all specialty care workers to be in the unit. Management retained union-busting lawyers at the Husch Blackwell firm, rejecting all efforts at compromise and insisted on a hearing before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Be it resolved that the MadWorC Board will put out the following statement of support to the membership and the public regarding the GHC and its reaction to its workers’ actions:
MadWorC stands in solidarity with GHC workers in negotiating a contract with GHC that prioritizes worker rights and patient care. MadWorC further encourages GHC to be true to its own cooperative values and principles, end its union-busting, and recognize the union that GHC’s workers have democratically chosen.
Unanimously adopted by the Madison Worker Cooperatives Board of Directors on October 15, 2025