Blog

Deer River Workers Reach Tentative Agreement

We just got word from SEIU that the workers at the Essentia Health Deer River Clinic have reached a tentative agreement with the company. So their strike, which was to start on Jan. 2, has been called off. So our union's planned carpool to their picket line is also now cancelled. Thank you to everyone who supported the Deer River workers during their tough negotiations. They stood strong, and it paid off!

Support the Deer River Clinic Workers!

The workers at the Essentia Health Clinic in Deer River have reached an impasse in their negotiations with Essentia. They have announced they will be holding a two day strike on Jan. 2 and 3. Our union stands 100% in support of the Deer River workers, who are represented by the SEIU union. We have filed the legally required notification that our members will be joining the picket line in solidarity with them. (Please note, to avoid being disciplined, that you have to be off the clock while you walk the picket line.) The pickets will be taking place from from 6am to 6pm, each day.

Workplace Violence Bill Passes U.S. House

After a months-long campaign bolstered by United Steelworkers (USW) activists, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1309) reached the floor of the U.S. House today and passed 251-158.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), would direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard that requires health care and social service industry employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans.

Local 9460 Stands in Solidarity With the MNA

The Minnesota Nurses Association is currently engaged in contract negotiations with both Essentia Health and St. Luke’s.  Their negotiations have been tough, so they decided to hold an informational picket on August 20 to both put pressure on Esssentia and St. Luke’s, and to inform the public about their struggle.  Our union, United Steelworkers Local 9460, was proud to walk the picket line in solidarity with the MNA, and continue to support them in their contract negotiations. 

Below are some pictures from the informational picket held in front of Essentia Health in Duluth:

Looking to Fill Vacancies: Trustee and Unit Presidents

Officers in our union are elected every three years.  But from time to time, elected officials leave their office early, be it because of retirement, taking a job somewhere else or any of the myraid of things that sometimes come up in our lives.  When that happens, the union's Executive Board generally appoints someone to fill the remainder of the term for the vacated office.

Currently we have a couple of positions that are vacant, and that we are looking for applicants to apply for.  At the next meeting of our Executive Board IAugust 20) we are looking to vote on filling three vacant positions: Trustee, Unit President for the Essentia Health Ely Clinic, and Unit President for Lakeshore Ecumen. 

Steelworker Pension Meetings

In March our union had planned to tour a representative of the Steelworkers Pension Trust around the region, but as some-times happens in the Northland, inclement weather caused the tour to be cancelled. We are happy to announce though that we have been able to reschedule the tour for this July.

Below is a list of dates and meeting locations that the representative of the Pension will be at. These are all set up to be informal meetings where you can come and pose any question that you have about your pension. All current members of our union, former members and retirees are welcome and encouraged to attend. Help us spread the word!

Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to our three scholarship winners - Matthew Rukavina, Morgan Karasek and Rhianna Lees!  Matthew won our tech school scholarshhip, and Morgan and Rhianna won our two 4 year college scholarships.  All winners will be getting a packet in the mail with all the information they'll need going forward.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the first of what will be an annual college scholarship program sponsored by our union local!

PSA Info Meeting

Essentia Health is looking to combine the check in and check out roles in the Duluth Clinic buildings.  They have already made this change to the Dermatology Department, and they plan to roll it out in phases to the rest of the Clinic departments in the months to come.  The union has been in discussion with the company, and is calling this meeting to pass on what we know, to try and answer whatever questions we can, and to hear any concerns that you want passed on to the company.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 @ 5:30pm at the Local 9460 office: 2002 London Road, Room 202 – Duluth, MN