MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez, who is also a labor organizer, was joined by Supervisors Justin Bielinski, Jack Eckblad, Caroline Gómez -Tom, Felesia A. Martin, Shawn Rolland, Kathleen Vincent, Steven Shea, Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones, and Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell in condemning recent actions by Rogers Behavioral Health that resulted in the abrupt firing of three mental health providers at its West Allis clinic just days after they announced plans to unionize under the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). The Supervisors expressed strong support for the caregivers and called on Rogers’ leadership to reverse course immediately:
“Workers should never be penalized for exercising their fundamental rights to organize,” said Martinez. “These caregivers were acting out of concern for their patients and community. Instead of addressing legitimate staffing concerns constructively, Rogers chose retaliation.”
According to reports, on February 9, three experienced providers were terminated shortly after announcing their intent to form a union. The NUHW has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging illegal retaliation. While Rogers has voluntarily recognized the same union at other locations in California and Pennsylvania, its actions in Wisconsin raise serious concerns about inconsistency and fairness.
Federal law protects employees’ right to form or join a union and prohibits employers from disciplining or firing workers for union activity. The National Labor Relations Act makes it an unlawful labor practice to retaliate against employees for seeking to organize. Supervisor Martinez emphasized that the union effort is rooted not in politics but in patient care, pointing to staffing changes that have increased caseloads and reduced time with individual patients:
“These staffing issues undermine quality care. Firing practitioners mid-shift leaves vulnerable patients without continuity or proper notice and further stresses an already strained system.”
Supervisor Martinez reached out to Rogers Behavioral Health on behalf of his colleagues and is urging the following: 1) Reinstate the Fired Employees. Rogers should rehire the three providers and remedy the injustice. 2) Cease All Union-Busting Tactics. Rogers should halt all intimidation and allow the upcoming NLRB election to proceed without interference. 3) Negotiate in Good Faith. Rogers should engage collaboratively with staff and the union to address concerns about staffing ratios, workloads, and patient care.
“Rogers Behavioral Health prides itself on caring for the community,” Martinez said. “Firing workers for exercising their legal right to organize contradicts those values. We call on Rogers’ Board and leadership to reaffirm their commitment to workers’ rights and patient care by reversing these terminations and treating employees with the respect they deserve.
“The future of quality mental health care depends on empowering caregivers, not silencing them. Rogers must demonstrate that it values both its patients and its people.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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