Blog

July 22 Red Book Update

 Quick update: we had an amazing turnout yesterday.  It was a strong showing of solidarity, we are unified in our pursuit of a fair contract.  The next negotiating session will be Aug. 23, but stay tuned for announcements about further actions between now and then!

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July 20 Red Book Update

At the Redbook negotiations table this week, your committee stood strong and continues to fight Essentia’s unsafe flexibility proposals. Now we need YOU! Join your union family as we stand together to show we are united in standing up for patient and worker safety! We will focus our activities from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, but come any time from 7am to 7pm. If you haven’t yet, make sure you RSVP and if you have RSVP’d, help your co-workers RSVP here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/usw-local-9460-rally

Informational Rally at Essentia on July 21!

Our union is locked in tough contract negotiations with Essentia Health for our Red Book contract, as well as a Year 3 wage re-opener for our Green Book contract.  We are currently so far apart in negotiations, that we have decided to hold an informational rally in front of the new Vision Northland hospital.  The rally will be on July 21, and will run from 7am to 7pm.

Red Book "Meat & Greet" on July 10

RED BOOK: The Union Negotiating Committee for the Red Book contract is going to be holding a "Meat & Greet" on Monday, July 10 from 4-7:30pm. We'll be gathering in the basement and back yard area of the Duluth Labor Temple (2002 London Road). It'll be a chance to meet the Negotiating Committee and get some free brats, burgers and veggies dogs! We'll also be making some announcements, and distributing supplies, for future actions - and if you bring your union sticker, you'll get a free t-shirt!

June 29 St. Luke's Update

We are nearing the end of non-economic part of negotiations, and we submitted our initial economic proposals to St. Luke's.  The employer had some questions about our proposals, but didn't give us any kind of a response yet.  We'll be meeting again on July 17.

Red Book Solidarity Action This Friday!

RED BOOK SOLIDARITY ACTION: We are asking all of our members to wear a red, union sticker at work tomorrow (Friday, June 30). If you're a Red Book member, and you have gotten a sticker yet, reach out to the WIN team or Negotiating Committee to get one, or you can get them here at the union office. And don't throw away the sticker when you're done - hold onto it to get a t-shirt and other supplies for our next actions!

June 27 Green Book Wage Re-Opener Update

There was another negotiation session today between our union and Essentia Health over the Year 3 raise for the Green Book contract. We were able to get the employer off there insulting proposal for only a 1% raise, at least a little bit. But now they're proposing to compress the wage grid. We were way too far apart to reach an agreement today, so we're going to have to schedule more negotiation dates. Stay tuned.

June 26 Green Book Wage Re-Opener Update

We met with Essentia Health for the second time to discuss the Year 3 wage re-opener for the Green Book contract. The employer is claiming that they are stretched financially due to inflation, low reimbursements and high costs. And they are refusing to even acknowledge the dramatic increase in our work loads. They offered only a 1% raise. We rejected this, and will be going back to the table tomorrow.