SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa’s longest strike in recent memory came to an end last month as about 70 workers voted to accept the TA with Essentia Health’s Deer River location.
The 49-day unfair labor practices strike resulted in an agreement that includes 12 percent raises across the board over three years as well as market adjustments for some positions.
The strike was marked by bitterly cold weather during an otherwise mild season, and the unit’s resolve over winter holidays into the cold snap were a point of pride. The agreement came days after a large rally outside Essentia Hospital in Duluth, where many of the strikers and their allies spoke about their resolve.
“One of the things I’ve been working on since I’ve been in office is about how we need to stand for solidarity for all,” said Lindajean Thompson, president of United Steelworker 9460. “We have to support the workers in Deer River; they’re such a strong team. I’m in awe of them.”
“I’m so proud of SEIU and all the striking workers,” said Susan Wagner-Thomas, a vice president at USW 9460. “I can’t believe they’ve been out in this weather; I have the utmost respect for them.”
Speakers at the rally were united in their admiration for the strikers, and their words made it clear that most believed SEIU would win this fight.
“It takes so much to stand up, but to stand up against an employer — that is some kind of courage that will last for generations,” said Rasha Ahmad Sharif, an executive vice president at SEIUHCMNIA. “We’re here to show solidarity and courage for the workers; the workers are always right.”
“Essentia has been putting us through the wringer,” said SEIU internal organizer and lead negotiator Kayla Schwankle. “But our members are standing together for fair wages and telling Essentia that cross-facility is not going to work for all of us.”
Other unions chimed in about their experiences with Essentia and it’s efforts to move employees around to different properties. “Frequent relocation disrupts personal lives, increases commute times and confusion, and increases burnout. The real solution is additional staff.”
Christopher Worth of AFSCME 1626, Itasca County Courthouse workers, said all unions need to stand together in these circumstances. “We came out to support the workers, because we’re in the same boat as them,” he said. “We’re fighting for a fair wage adjustment and we all need to stand together.”
“I’m so tired of this corporate mindset,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham. “Here we stand outside of Essentia where the CEO got a $1 million bonus in 2022 and 2023. Working conditions impact not only the workers themselves, but patients and workers’ families. Essentia can do better.”