JANESVILLE — Striking UAW Local 95 workers continued picketing through light drizzle Sunday morning outside Mercyhealth East Clinic in Janesville, in an ongoing labor dispute.
Workers marching along the clinic’s perimeter covered their signs in plastic as a security vehicle sat near the entrance of the building.
Striking UAW Local 95 workers continued to picket outside the Mercyhealth East Clinic in Janesville on Sunday, July 6, 2025.
Mercyhealth East, 3524 E. Milwaukee St., is an outpatient clinic affiliated with Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville.
The 137 union members walked off the job at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, July 2, and have continued their strike every day until 5 p.m., except for the July 4 holiday.
In an undated letter to striking workers sent since the strike began, obtained by The 69, Mercyhealth Vice President of Operations Jenni Hallat said participating workers risk losing their jobs if the strike continues.
“While on strike, striking employees/partners will not receive pay and are not entitled to unemployment benefits under Wisconsin law. Second, in certain circumstances, the benefits (including healthcare) of striking employees/partners may be discontinued. Third, striking employees/partners can be replaced, in some cases permanently,” the letter said.
Hallat suggested in the letter that progress toward a resolution has been made.
“Consistent with the parties’ long history and productive relationship, the parties have made much progress and have worked together to resolve difficult issues concerning your employment. In fact, so much progress has been made that only two significant issues remain: wages and healthcare,” the letter said.
One striking worker, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Sarah, called the letter and the threat of job losses “disappointing.”
Sue Drogsvold, a registered nurse who has worked at Mercyhealth East for over 10 years and been a member of the union since 1985, said union workers are not striking for “economic gains.”
“That would be a benefit if it did happen,” Drogsvold said. “But we’re here for unfair labor practices and a secure workplace.”
Drogsvold said in her time at the clinic, workplace security issues have included threats against workers’ lives and disturbances caused by homeless people, without adequate security measures to keep those in check.
“We are here together in solidarity to do what’s right,” Drogsvold said. “It’s not because we want more money. We love our patients, we miss our patients, it’s purely just unfair labor practices.”
Another striking worker, who declined to share their name, called Hallat’s letter a “scare tactic, to which we will not be deterred.”
“It’s a scare tactic,” Drogsvold agreed. “It just shows that they don’t care about their people here. She can’t scare us; we’re sticking together.”
Hallat further said in the letter that Mercyhealth’s first priority is its patients, and that strikers have a legal right to work during the strike and are encouraged to.
However, “if you desire to continue working and earn pay and maintain other benefits that you and your family rely on, you will need to cross the union’s picket line,” Hallat said, and “according to the UAW’s constitution, to avoid union discipline you will need to resign your membership with UAW Local 95 in writing to the financial Secretary of UAW Local 95 before reporting to work during the strike.”
Hallat said the decision to resign their union membership would be up to those on strike.
“Your ability to return to work will not be conditioned on the resignation of your membership,” Hallat wrote.
Sign up for our Daily Update & Weekend Update email newsletters!
Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
