Steelworkers Local 9460 announced it has come to a tentative agreement on a one-year contract, just days after more than 100 people visited the union’s rally last week.
The action came as the negotiating team met with the employer and a federal mediator in the hopes of hashing out an agreement that includes better wages. The union has said St. Luke’s made the implication that this action would be in violation of the expired collectively bargained contract, but the union and its legal team responded that it was not.
Other workers from St. Luke’s Hospital came throughout the day, as well as tech workers from Essentia, members of the Minnesota Nurses Association, miners from the Iron Range, teachers, public sector workers, paper mill workers, elected officials, members of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees and community members.
The union said a one-year agreement “would be best for both parties” as they navigate the merger of St. Luke’s and Aspirus Healthcare.
Members will be voting on the contract in the coming days.