Blog

Dec. 18 Red Book Negotiations Update

Last week your bargaining committee met with Essentia Tuesday through Thursday, and then
had an additional exchange today. During that time, every one of you stepped up by signing a petition or sharing photos with our Fair Contract Now Signs. Due to your solidarity we were able to fight off harmful changes to your time off and to your PTO accrual!  Click the link below for a full update on some of the wins we have had at the table:

Tech Worker Petition Delivered to Essentia Health

A delegation of tech workers from United Steelworkers Local 9460 delivered a petition to Essentia Health this afternoon. The petition, which was signed by over 1000 workers and community members, calls on Essentia to honor the sacrifice of its workers with a fair contract and safe staffing levels. Despite having an appointment, Essentia security intervened, and the workers were prevented from reading their prepared statement. Afterwards Local 9460 held a press conference sharing with the media what had happened.

Steelworkers File ULP Against Essentia Health

RED BOOK: While your bargaining committee is fighting for wages and benefits to attract and retain the quality healthcare workers patients deserve, Essentia has been delaying bargaining. We believe that Essentia has violated labor law by not providing your bargaining committee the information necessary to bargain in good faith. Today we have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board. Stay tuned for more information.

Succesful Red Book Rally in Downtown Duluth

Congratulations Red Book for an awesome community rally yesterday in downtown Duluth. We reached a lot of people, and even CEO David Herman drove by and got to see first hand how unhappy his workers are with the low wages, short staffing levels and misplaced priorities that Essentia is imposing on its work force. Keep up the good fight!

Red Book Sign Making Party

Our next rally is going to be this coming Sunday from 12:30-2pm. To get ready for this, this Thursday we're going to be having a sign making party! From 4-7pm we'll be in Hall B of the Duluth Labor Temple with poster board, markers and other supplies. Come on by and make a sign to hold on Sunday!

Sign the Petition to Support Essentia Tech Workers!

Congratulations! Because of the actions we as a group have so far, Essentia Health has withdrawn its proposals to make our schedules flexible. We go back to the negotiating table for the Red Book Dec. 12-14. In the meantime, make your voice heard! We invite EVERYONE to fill out this short survey so the company knows how their employees and members of the public feel about our dedicated technical workers.

A. F. Kojetinsky Scholarship Applications for 2024

The United Steelworker District 11's Kojetinsky Scholarship applications have been issued for 2024.  There are two scholarships being offered, one for students who will be attending a four year college, and one for students who will be attending a technical or vocational school.  They are for students who are the children or wards of members of the Steelworkers.  You can click on the link below to open and print the applications.  To get the offical stamp needed to file the application, just swing by the office.  Applications have to be postmarked no later than May 31, 2024.

Dec. 10 Red Book Community Action

Join us for a community rally on the sidewalk in front of the Duluth Playhouse. Please note though that we are not protesting the Playhouse itself. This rally is in support of the tech workers of Essentia Health, who are currently locked in a bitter contract fight. Essentia is one of the sponsors of the current plays being performed at the Playhouse. Our goal is to make the community aware of Essentia's refusal to hire an adequate number of staff, or offer a respectable compensation package, for the hundreds of tech workers that make the quality patient care there possible.