MADISON (WKOW) -- A group of UnityPoint Health-Meriter employees were joined by community leaders and elected officials in protest of the hospital system's vacation hours policy.
Union employees like food service and environmental service workers say they've risked their lives to keep the hospital running.
They gathered outside the hospital late Thursday afternoon.
The group is upset Meriter's parent company UnityPoint Health made nearly $276 million in profits, but executives are unwilling to give employees additional time off to recover from the pandemic. The hospital system includes dozens of hospitals in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Meriter made $67.8 million, which represents a 4.1% operating margin.