Steelworkers Stand With the MNA!

You may have heard that the nurses strike is off at Essentia and Aspirus. Yes and no. The Aspirus strike has been called off because a tentative agreement was reached there. A tentative agreement was also reached at Essentia for the hospital RNs. However the Essentia clinic RNs and the Advance Practice Providers are still set to go on strike. The clinic RN strike starts on July 8 and the APP strike starts on July 10. Their pickets will be up daily from 7am to 5:30pm at the 1st St. & 2nd Street of the Duluth main campus, at Essentia Superior, the Miller Hill Mall and Essentia Virginia.  

The Minnesota Nurses Association has the full support of United Steelworkers Local 9460!  While federal law prohibits us from striking in solidarity with them, we can hold informational pickets at the same time as their strike, and will do so starting July 10. 

Here are some concrete things you can do to show your solidarity with the RNs and APPs going on strike: 1. Walk their picket lines before or after your shift, on your days off and/or if you punch out for your lunch break.   2. Wear an MNA or a Steelworker button while you’re at work (if you don't have a button, there are bins set up on the Steelworker bulletin boards of the 1st Street and 3rd Street Clinics.  You can also get some from our office in the Labor Temple).  3. And speak up against any bad mouthing of the nurses.  Don’t let anyone divide us!  The nurses are fighting for the same things that we are – safe staffing levels and fair compensation.  

We’re all in this together!