Blog

Lake Superior Community Health Center Wage Re-Opener

Both the Profesional Unit and the Support Staff Unit at the Lake Superior Community Health Center are entering into a Year 3 wage re-opener with the employer.  The first meeting was on December 13.  The meetings are ongoing.  Be sure to support your Negotiating Committee, and watch for updates.

Nurses Strike at Essentia & St. Luke's is Averted

Steelworker Rally in Support of Workers @ U.S. Steel

Our union siblings on the Iron Range need our solidarity! The United Steelworkers have been locked in tough contract negotiations with U.S. Steel. The workers have decided to organize a rally on Oct. 8 in Virginia, MN starting at the far east end of Chestnut Street E (near the intersection with the Mesaba Trail). Join us in showing U.S. Steel that the Northland stands behind the workers! Mark your calendar and help us spread the word about this event!

New Steward Training

Local 9460 is going to be doing a new steward training on November 2. If you're interested in becoming a union steward, email us at [email protected]. It will be a day long training that we'll request that you get off of work for, and then compensate your wages.

We Stand in Solidarity With the Nurses Strike!

The United Steelworkers Local 9460 stands in solidarity with the Minnesota Nurses Association. The MNA will be on strike this Monday through Wednesday, with pickets up from 7am to 7pm each day. If management tries to get you to do any MNA work during the strike, call us right away!

Tentative Agreement Reached on Regional Clinic Contracts

This week the union reached a tentative agreement in its negotiations with Essentia Health for our contracts that cover the Ely, Hibbing, Spooner, Hayward and Ashland Clinics. Watch your mailbox for a mailing that will list when the ratification votes will be at each site, along with a copy of the Tentative Agreement that we will be voted on.

Red Book Update

The Red Book (the contract which covers Essentia Health tech workers) year 3 wage re-opener has been wrapped up. The employer agreed to a wage increase for everyone in the contract of at least 3%. There were also some changes negotiated to the way that the grid is laid out (for example, every job title is now listed separately, so that it's easier to look up your wage) and some changes for particular job titles.

Regional Clinics Negotiations Update

REGIONAL CLINICS: Essentia Health and the union met yesterday and today for contract negotiations. The union negotiating committee felt that after two days of hard work, the two sides were getting very close to reaching an agreement on wages and certification pay and were hoping an agreement could be reached today. However, the company insisted on ending negotiations at 6pm sharp. This unfortunately means that we have to wait until the next scheduled negotiations meeting, which will be on August 23. Thank you to everyone who wore their union buttons and stickers these past two days!