Blog

Regional Negotiations Update #1

Essentia Health Regional Clinics (Ely, Hibbing, Spooner, Hayward and Ashland) Negotiations Update from June 21

The Union is asking for:

  • fair & equitable wages to reflect the rampant inflation

Essentia responded with a wage proposal of only 1% / 1% / 1%

And on top of that, they are demanding the following concessions:

Red Book Wage Re-Opener Starting

The Essentia Health Red Book contract was negotiationed to have a Year 3 wage re-opener where we will be discussion pay and related financial issues for the last year of the contract.  The union has been trying to get it started for some time.  We're happy to announce that it will finally kicking off this coming Wednesday (June 22). Unlike previous wage re-openers, which were one day affairs, this one will likely go on for multiple sessions. We'll keep you posted as things unfold!

LSCHC Support Staff Contract Ratified

you to everyone who turned out to vote yesterday on the Support Staff contract for the Lake Superior Community Health Center. We had a great turnout. The tentative agreement was ratified and will now go into effect.

LSCHC Support Staff Ratification Vote

The Support Staff unit at Lake Superior Community Health Center will be voting on a tentative agreement that the union has reached with the company. There will be two chances to vote on June 1 - from 7am to 8:30am at the Duluth LSCHC Conference Room and from 4:30pm to 6pm at the Superior LSCHC Conference Room.

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.