The Service Employees International Union Local 199 is calling for better pay and improved staffing at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, reports The Gazette.
The union, which represents thousands of employees at UIHC, including nurses, is currently negotiating a labor contract. On Thursday, union members delivered about 400 letters to the office of UIHC CEO Ken Kates, demanding better working conditions, according to the report.
The letter — copied and signed about 400 times — specifically alleged low staffing levels at the hospitals, according to the report.
"Sixty-eight percent of our members have reported that their units are understaffed either every day or frequently," the letter said, according to the report. "We know [we] can do better, but only with proper staffing and support."
In response to the letter, UIHC provided the following statement:
"The commitment of University of Iowa Health Care to patient safety and to providing competitive pay and benefits is unsurpassed. We continue to work closely with all concerned parties to address the nationwide nursing shortage that is impacting hospitals across the country. Responding to this issue is a high priority."
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