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Essentia Health Regional Clinics Update #2

The union and Essentia Health had another negotiating session for the Regional Clinics (Ely, Hibbing, Spooner, Hayward and Ashland) today. There was a modest amount of progress on some of the remaining non-economic issues under discussion. For example the company, which is no longer doing General Orientation sessions for new hires at the Duluth campus, will now allow us to meet with new hires on site within two weeks of being hired.

Essentia Health Regional Clinics Update #1

We just wrapped up our first negotiating session today for the Essentia Health Regional Clinics (Ely, Hibbing, Spooner, Hayward and Ashland). We began by exchanging proposals regarding non-economic matters. So far the company is pushing for concessions regarding our contract language on disciplines and leaves of absences. They're also trying to get the probationary period for new hires extended from 520 to 640 hours. So we have our work cut out for us! We go back to the table on Wednesday, May 25. Stay tuned for future updates.

Essentia Health Red Book Update

We've been getting a lot of requests for updates on what the status is of the Year 3 Red Book wage re-opener. Rest assured, we haven't forgotten about it. We had hoped to begin the wage re-opener quite a while ago, but have been unable to nail down dates with Essentia Health. However, we're expect to have some dates on the calendar soon, and we'll be sure to announce them as soon as that happens.

April Membership Meeting Moved to April 26

We want to give everyone a heads up that this union month’s membership meeting has been moved from April 19 to April 26.  It will still be at 5:30pm in the basement of the Labor Temple, as usual.  The reason for the meeting being moved is that a number of our people will be out of town next week attending the Steelworkers Negotiations Training Conference.   May’s meeting will be held on the 3rd Tuesday as usual.

2022 Scholarships

Children and dependents of members of our local union qualify for two great Steelworker scholarships.  One of them, the A.F. Kojetinsky Scholarship is open to Steelworker members throughout the Midwest.  The other is done by our local union and is only for the children and dependents of members of Local 9460.  Below are links for each other them - containing all of the info about each scholarship, and the application form.

LSCHC Support Staff Mtg

Tonight there is going to be another meeting for the Support Staff of Lake Superior Community Health Center to discuss contract negotiations. With the tentative agreement between the company and union having been voted down, this meeting is for members to share what issues and priorities they want to see that wasn't in the previous agreement.

Midwest Medical Contract Survey Review Mtg

To help prepare for the upcoming contract negotiations between Essentia's Midwest Medical Equipment & Suplly and the union, surveys have been sent out to all of the workers asking for what issues are most important to you and that you want the union negotiating committee to fight for.  We will be holding a meeting where you can drop off your surveys, ask any questions you may have and share what priorities you think we should have.  That meeting will be at 5:30pm on February 9 at the union office (2002 London Road in Duluth, Room 202).  All union members at Midwest Medical and welcome and encouraged to attend. 

LSCHC Support Staff Vote Down Tentative Agreement

The Support Staff at the Lake Superior Community Health Center have voted down the tentative agreement that had been reached between the company and the union's negotiating committee.  The negotiating committee will be going back to the table.

Before that though we're going to be holding a Town Hall meeting for all Support Staff workers to  attend and share what changes and improvements they'd like the committee to fight for.  The Town Hall will be on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 5:30pm.  It'll be held in Room 202 of the Duluth Labor Temple (2002 London Road).  Please attend if you can!