"I love so much about GHC. My patients and my co-workers are the foundation of what makes us different, and special. I want our union because I want to keep what is working well. I want to ensure safe patient care that relies on a trusting relationship. I want my co-workers to practice to their full scope, receive competitive compensation, and WANT to stay. Our incredible on-the-ground staff needs a voice at the table to work in collaboration with leadership on policies that affect our day to day work. I want our union because I believe it is the best way to preserve what we love while bringing a spirit of innovation to keep our GHC family engaged and excited about our work in the years ahead."
Annie dutcher, pa at hatchery hill
Charlotte Leydon, RN and
“A better future, together: When George and I considered employment options in 2011, GHC-SCW 's appeal included the culture of a cooperative, the small family-like feel, and what that would mean for our work and home life balance as we raised our young boys. What we didn't anticipate was the invaluable connections and friendships we would build with our colleagues.
Over the years we have had the pleasure of providing quality care for members, families, and our community. We have also been on the receiving end of care and support when George faced his own health concerns. The interconnectedness of the people within the GHC community is truly our greatest asset.
In the last several years, however, we have increasingly been asked to do more with less.
During and after COVID, we have been challenged with increasing responsibilities and growing volumes of requests from patients, coworkers, and administration. In our day to day tasks in the clinic, we are continuously reminded that we rely on each other. That the choices we make can affect the next person who assists our patients. This reliance can make for good days, or quickly break down into a tough day. Improved staff retention, job satisfaction, and having a valued voice at the table can help us move forward with strength and sustainability.
Together, we can face future challenges that both respect our past and honor the promises of that cooperation on which we have come to rely."
George Leydon, DO at Capitol Clinic
"As a bright new graduate, I was so excited to start my job working in my preferred field, family medicine; at my preferred organization, GHC; in my preferred city of Madison! Unfortunately, it didn't take me long to find out that family medicine staff are vastly overworked and underappreciated. I take great pride in what we do, but unfortunately, that pride is weaponized against us to make us feel like the joy and privilege that our job affords is enough to make us work those extra hours, sacrifice our lunch breaks, our holidays, our social life and our physical health for lower wages and benefits than we might earn elsewhere.
I believe that by bringing our voices together, my fellow workers can be loud enough to cut through the idea we are often told: that we are replaceable, that we are alone. In the efforts we have made to unionize, a handful of people in a living room has grown to numerous people in every department at every clinic. It has been revitalizing to see so many people from wall to wall concerned about the health and happiness of each other, our community, and our organization. I want to see all of my healthcare colleagues get the opportunity to truly be better together with union representation."
KYOKO FELLAND, PA AT CAPITOL CLINIC
“Since joining GHC in 2013, I have dedicated my career to providing exceptional care to my patients. Seeing my patients brings me joy above all else. My primary goal has always been to keep them satisfied and safe. However, I believe we can do better, and that a union is the key to achieving this.
A union at GHC will give us a voice in decision-making, allowing us to advocate for changes that prioritize patient safety and satisfaction.
Imagine the improvements we could make with frontline insights. By incorporating our perspectives, we can develop policies that enhance clinical outcomes and elevate the standard of care. Collectively, a union empowers us to address the issues that matter most. With a unified voice, we can push for improvements that enhance our work environment, increase job satisfaction, and lead to better patient experiences. Coming from a family of union members, I've seen the transformative power of unions firsthand. Having a say in organizational decisions brings positive change, fosters empowerment, and creates a supportive workplace. Let us unite for the betterment of our patients, our team, and our future."
Ira Segal, MD at East Clinic
“To me, being a part of a union means protection, togetherness, and a chance to create a work environment unique to all our diverse needs. Formerly being part of a union during my first pregnancy, my family was provided paid maternity leave and covered my health insurance premiums. My husband was part of that union also and received two months of paternity leave. Having our union as support gave us security while adjusting to parenthood.
By coming together and unionizing, we can preserve the best parts of GHC and build on it. Utilizing our foundation to grow and expand in a more inclusive direction allows us to make decisions that directly apply to our needs."
Novice Lowman, CTS at Urgent Care
"One of the things I like best about working at Group Health Cooperative is the people I work with. The environment at Urgent Care is very supportive, even for staff like me who are per diem. I think retaining clinical staff is critically important. As a nurse practitioner who has worked in many institutions throughout my career, the clinical support staff at CHC makes me feel spoiled because they are skilled enough to accommodate my needs as a provider. Their skill and knowledge makes my job easier and more enjoyable. I support the union efforts because everyone I work with at GHC, regardless of their rank or clinical role, deserves a voice and influence over how their work environment operates. Our union provides us with a venue to share in decision-making with administration. Our union also provides us with protection against unilateral decision-making from managers or administrators who may or may not even work in or understand the workflows of the department. I plan to vote yes for our union both for myself and because I think my colleagues and coworkers all deserve a workplace where they have a voice and genuine shared decision-making."
Jackie Christianson, FNP at Urgent Care
Holly Schmidt, WHNP-BC at Capitol CliniC
“2025 marks 30 years of me being a nurse and while a lot has changed, some things have stayed the same: namely the need for a strong, unified voice that fights for a system that protects patients and the workers that provide them care. For the first 10+ years of my career I was part of a nurses' union and experienced firsthand not only the benefits, but the power of a collective voice working towards a common goal. While I still love being a nurse, I have grown increasingly weary from a healthcare system that puts profit above people as well as a workplace where I feel my voice is not heard, I have little say in how I practice, and where patient care is suffering. I believe unionizing is the best way to address our concerns and bring about positive change.
Together, all of us, we can make a difference. That is why I am excited to support our union!"
“Healthcare is in a state of crisis that has steadily worsened since the pandemic. Inadequate wages, ineffective workflows and unsustainable workloads are causing extreme stress and burnout on first line medical staff. We must improve these conditions to provide the highest quality care for our patients.
I've been in healthcare as a Physician Assistant for 28 years. Caring for patients comprehensively requires adequate staffing with sufficient time allotted. As our population ages, diseases have become more serious and extensive. We need a seat at the table so we can work together with management to enact effective and timely changes to meet these intensive patient needs.
I'm voting union yes so that I have the ability to bargain for wages and benefits. I'm voting yes so that my patients can get accessible and safe care. And finally I'm voting yes so that GHC employees can serve as an example as we try to save healthcare from further erosion."
Julie Vander Werff, PA at East Clinic
“I have been at GHC since 1985. I love my job and what I do. I have seen many changes over the years, but having a union would be an enormous benefit for both the employer and the employees. Working collaboratively together to make this the greatest place to work, would give our patients excellent service and good quality of care.
Having a union and working together would give a boost of confidence to all that work there. Having a seat at the table to discuss things that affect our work productivity and the quality of service we can give, would empower all to serve our community better. Knowing that those who do the work, know how to make things work more efficiently, would be an asset to GHC."
Marcia Bolles, PA at Sauk Trails Clinic
“I have been a Family Medicine Physician with GHC for 4 years. Prior to that, I have worked at several other medium and large sized organizations and therefore have a good perspective on how healthcare organizations work. I have been so happy working at GHC but I know that many employees are not as happy. I want to help everyone feel valued and content at work so that we all enjoy working hard together. One large area where I think GHC falls short is transparency about roles and wages. Employees are being paid different amounts and being held to different standards.
I support forming a union at GHC because I think it will help create a more fair and just working environment for all GHC employees and allow us to truly be Better Together instead of siloed into silence. Unions help empower employees which helps with job retention, something any healthcare organization certainly prioritizes. I am proud to work at GHC. I think we deliver high quality care and our patients feel that. With high turnover or employee disgruntlement, even high quality care can be perceived as poor. I want to ensure our patients continue to feel the care and continue to choose GHC over the alternatives; that is why I support having a union at GHC.”
Kate Porter, DO at Capitol Clinic
NISHA RAJAGOPALAN, MD at HATCHERY HILL Clinic
“As a family medicine physician for 21 years at GHC I have always prioritized patient care over other aspects of my job. I support forming a union at GHC because I think it will allow us to provide excellent care for our patients. When the people who are working in the clinics are involved in decision making we will have better clinical outcomes. As I have learned more about unions I have realized that in addition to improving aspects of our healthcare organization a union will also importantly allow us to protect the things that we already do well. I am proud to be at GHC as a physician as well as a patient. I believe it is an excellent place to receive healthcare. I want to do what I can for our Cooperative. I support forming a Union at GHC for myself, my coworkers and most importantly for our patients.”
“I’m Katie Cloud and I’ve been working at GHC as a Certified Medical Assistant for over 11 years. I love my patients and joined our union effort to make sure I could continue to give them the best quality of care possible. We’re seeing many experienced and passionate staff leave the organization. GHC recently reported an appalling 36% turnover rate in nursing staff. And the reason? Wages are so low that many of us can’t afford to live in Madison and need to take second and third jobs to make ends meet. Our vacation banks are eaten up whenever we are sick. The constant threat of retaliation for supporting our union has created an atmosphere of fear. Workers are afraid they’ll be disciplined or lose their jobs for simply speaking up. Burnout, understaffing, and impossible workloads are an everyday reality for us. We’re working through lunch breaks, we’re staying late without pay, and our poor patient-staff ratios prevent us from providing the care that our patients deserve. And all of this is happening while GHC spends its time fighting us instead of working with us. We need change, not just for ourselves, but for our patients who rely on us every single day. It’s time for GHC to recognize our union.”
Katie Cloud, cts at capitol Clinic
“I’ve been a primary care provider at GHC for almost 10 years. Over 70% of the primary and urgent care staff, along with Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Health Education and Dermatology, filed to form a union over six months ago. This was a collective action for better working conditions and better care for the patients we serve. And yet, instead of respecting this strong majority, GHC’s administration chose to fight us every step of the way. It’s obvious what GHC is doing here. GHC’s lawyers at Husch Blackwell, along with administrators and the Board, are trying to dictate who should be in our union, in an effort to make it much harder for us to form a union. At the same time, GHC administrators have engaged in serious violations of federal labor law. We have filed dozens of allegations of Unfair Labor Practices with the National Labor Relations Board – and today alone we are filing almost 20 more. GHC forbids us from talking about our union at work, held mandatory anti-union meetings, and retaliated against union leaders. In short, GHC has engaged in union-busting activities you’d expect to see from Starbucks or Amazon. We demand the freedom to choose our own union. We deserve the right to form a union that reflects our needs and values, not one dictated by management. It is vital for GHC to live up to their values, stop union-busting, and recognize our union.”
