MADISON Wis. – Since they announced their plans to strike last week, UW nurses claimed Thursday that hospital management has met their desire to have their union recognized with intimidation.

That same day, union leadership shared plans to submit a formal 10-day notice by the end of the week that pushes forward their promise to have hundreds of nurses walk off the job later this month unless their demands are met.

RELATED: Nurses to file 10-day strike notice with UW Health on Friday

UW nurses Mary Jorgensen and Shari Signer said managers have been calling staff into private meetings and asking them to sign documents that state whether they intend to strike, not strike, or are undecided.

“They want us scared. They want us intimidated,” said Jorgensen. “They want us to reevaluate our feelings towards the strike but we’re staying strong.”

Signer, one of the union’s leaders, said management has also told nurses they would classify employee participation in the strike as a “no call, no show,” threatening to even fire some.

She said she’s not surprised by the response from management but after 15 years as a UW nurse, three of which were spent trying to re-establish their union, she’s sad this is what it’s come to.

RELATED: UW Health nurses use #whyuwnursesneedaunion to shed light on understaffing

“We have been trying for years to get through to management, we have been trying to get to the board, we have been stopped every time we make an attempt,” Signer said. “Nobody is listening.”

In a statement to News 3 Now UW Health Press Secretary Emily Kumlien said:

“UW Health does not retaliate for supporting unions. UW Health will continue to follow our policies and all applicable laws related to attendance, bullying and patient care standards. Enforcing existing policies is not retaliation; it is responsible health care operations.”

RELATED: UW Health says nurses’ plan to strike ‘disappointing’

Long-time SEIU Union supporter state senator Melissa Agard also weighed on the issue. She said the hospital’s response has been concerning, worried that calling nurses off the floor for one on ones throws them off and affects patient care.

“That’s not healthy. I don’t think that’s productive to care for the patients as well as, how it is employees should be treated,” Agard said.

She added if UW Health wants to talk to the nurses, they can bring them to the decision table and that starts with recognizing their union.

Signer said a seat at the table means they would be able to advocate for their patients in a way only they, who interact with patients daily at their bedside, can provide.

The strike is set for 7 a.m. on Sept. 13– 16, unless the union is recognized and UW Health leadership agrees not to retaliate against participants.

RELATED: AG opinion says UW Health can voluntarily collectively bargain with nurses’ union

Legal opinions have varied on the subject but UW health officials have maintained their position that recognizing the union would break the law, violating Act 10 which cut back bargaining rights for unions in 2011.

Nurses said Thursday they would leave the door open for dialogue but will also consider extending the strike if their demands continue to be unfilled.

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