Members of Local 9460 who work across five Essentia Health regional clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin ratified their latest collective bargaining agreements during the week of Sept. 6, securing solid pay increases and improvements to the overall wage scale.
The bargaining committee, which consists of the five unit presidents as well as several other members for the bigger units, began meeting at the table with their employer in May. They were able to increase wages for all workers in multiple ways, such as simplifying the wage scale grid so that employees don't have to wait as long to get a pay increase.
"Many of these increases were long overdue, but they still add up," said Local 9460 President Deanna Hughes.
The contracts cover 122 health care workers, including registered nurses (RNs), radiology technicians, patient access representatives, and more.
Although these units are small, they used that to their advantage. Two of the locations previously had evening wage differentials, and the group rallied to make sure members at the remaining three clinics will also receive the same.
Phlebotomists and lab technicians will also now be eligible for wage increases by completing specific training programs. Those who do will receive an extra $1 an hour. The bargaining committee also obtained clear and concise language to file grievances when members feel that they have not received adequate training around new technology, system updates, and policies/procedures.
The spread-out local stayed connected throughout their summer of bargaining by organizing sticker days, hanging posters on the clinics’ bulletin boards, and posting signs in their car windows reading “Essential Workers Deserve a Fair Contract.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
