Essentia Health notified us on August 4 that they were going to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine to all of its workers. Wed found out later that same day that St. Luke's sent out an announcement to their workers that they too were going to be mandating the vaccine.
Our union is sending both employers a demand to bargain over this, and we will keep you posted what happens and what we learn as soon as we know more.
We have reached a tentative agreement with Lake Superior Community Health Center in our negotiations for the Professional Union contract. We'll be mailing out the tentative agreement to all of the members. On August 18 from 5-7pm we'll be holding a ratification vote at the Lake Superior Community Health Center's Conference Room in Superior. And once that is done, we'll be starting negotiations for the Support Staff contract at LSCHC.
We have reached a tentative agreement with Essentia Health for the Red Book contract. We will be mailing out the agreement to everyone and setting up meetings where folks can come and ask questions, and to vote on ratifying the changes.
We were able to get modest increases on shift differentials, call pay and the extra shift bonus. We are very happy to announce that we were able to negotiate that all year one and year two retro pay will be paid out in full. Regarding the wage grid, year one will go up by 2.25%, year two will go up 2% and year three will be a wage re-opener. Be sure to sure check the tentative agreement for more details. We look forward to talking with you at the Q & A/ratification vote, which we’ll be announcing the details of soon.
It was a close vote, but the members of the USW Local 9460 Green Book ratified the proposed new contract. A big thank you to everyone who turned out to vote yesterday and today!
Red Book Update: We were unable to reach an agreement with the company today. So a mediator is going to be brought in. If a mediator is available, it looks like the next negotiations will be on July 30.
The union and Essentia Health have reached a verbal tentative agreement regarding the Green Book. We're hoping to be able to have a ratification vote on July 28 and 29 where Green Book members will be able to vote on it. More specific details to come.
Thank you to everyone who turned out for our "Essentia: Invest In Your Workers" caravan today! In addition to our own members, we were joined from folks from USW Local 1938, State Senator Jennifer McEwen, USW Dist. 11, and the Duluth teacher's union. Our caravan visited the Hermantown Clinic, Essentia Miller Hill, SMMC, West Duluth Clinic, Superior Hospital & Clinic, the Lakewalk Clinic and the Lakeside Clinic, spreading our message far and wide!
Healthcare workers have endured great hardships, and sacrificed much during this pandemic. But judging by how contract negotiations between United Steelworkers Local 9460 and Essentia Health are going, Essentia doesn't seem to agree. Join us in calling for Essentia to invest in their workers! We're going to be doing a solidarity truck/car caravan through the Twin Ports, visiting different Essentia sites, while displaying signs and honking.
Healthcare workers have endured great hardships, and sacrificed much during this pandemic. But judging by how contract negotiations between United Steelworkers Local 9460 and Essentia Health are going, Essentia doesn't seem to agree. Join us in calling for Essentia to invest in their workers! We're going to be doing a solidarity truck/car caravan through the Twin Ports, visiting different Essentia sites, while displaying signs and honking.