Moose Lake
Bargaining

 

Essentia Health recognizes the MNA as the union representing the more than 50 nurses at Moose Lake. There was not an MNA contract in place with Essentia Health when it assumed Moose Lake operations as of August 1, 2020. Essentia Health is committed to working through the usual process of bargaining in good faith to come to a mutually agreeable contract.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – December 9, 2022 Update

Moose Lake nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association voted on Thursday to approve a labor agreement with Essentia Health. The three-year contract covers 50 nurses working at our Essentia Health-Moose Lake hospital.

The agreement benefits our valued nurses and allows us to continue providing high-quality care close to home for the patients we are privileged to serve in Moose Lake and the surrounding communities.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – November 28, 2022 Update

Essentia Health is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with our MNA-represented nurses in Moose Lake. Both parties worked hard at the bargaining table in pursuit of a contract that benefits our nurses, our organization and — most importantly — our patients. This outcome exemplifies what is possible through good-faith negotiations. It also ensures that these nursing jobs will remain among the best in the Moose Lake area.

We’re proud to have some of the finest nurses in the country, and we appreciate their dedication to providing the highest level of patient care in support of Essentia’s mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives.

As part of this tentative agreement, the MNA negotiating committee has agreed to recommend ratification and will hold a ratification vote on or before Dec. 9. The tentative agreement also indicates that the Moose Lake location will not participate in a strike authorization vote on Nov. 30.

 

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – November 22, 2022 Update

Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association met again today for bargaining. At the start of the day, Essentia Health Moose Lake expressed optimism about reaching a settlement and noted that this would take work on the part of both parties. Essentia Health made a proposal to bring the parties closer together on wages, shift differential, weekend differential, charge pay and extra weekend pay. The proposal is here.

Earlier in negotiations, the MNA was adamant that it would not accept anything other than a three-year agreement. Essentia agreed to that approach, and negotiations had been progressing with the understanding that this would be a three-year agreement to ensure security and stability for our nurses. Today the MNA surprised Essentia by changing their position to insist upon a 2.5-year agreement.

The parties spent most of the day in small group discussions working towards an agreement on the framework and terms for an overall contract settlement, but the union chose to end negotiations for today just before 7 p.m. We’ve asked the union to provide additional dates for bargaining.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – October 26, 2022 Update

Representatives of Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association continued negotiations today. At the beginning of the day, Essentia provided a summary of all tentative agreements reached during previous negotiations, which can be found here. Essentia also made a proposal that addressed all remaining items. The MNA worked for most of the day to review the proposal.

The MNA offered to come to an agreement on some of Essentia’s proposals as part of a package, including Essentia’s proposals on scheduling, insurance, and successors and assigns. The package can be found here.

On wages, Essentia increased its previous wage grid by 1% in year one and offered 2% increases in the second and third years. Essentia also offered to implement a weekend bonus. The revised wage grid can be found here. The MNA responded with a wage proposal that Essentia is now considering.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for November 22, and Essentia offered to provide a response to the MNA’s latest proposal at that time.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – October 11, 2022 Update

Representatives of Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association continued negotiations today. Tentative agreements were reached on management rights and union security.

When economics were discussed, both parties initially stood firm on previous proposals. By the end of the day, both parties made some movement toward closing the gap. When we return to the table on Oct. 26, Essentia will be responding with a counterproposal.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – September 28, 2022 Update

Representatives of Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association continued negotiating at the table today. Essentia Health believes that sustainable rural health care is critical to a vibrant community. We are approaching these negotiations from a unique local perspective focused on the needs of our Moose Lake patients and staff.

Most of the discussion today focused on staffing, wages and other contract provisions that are important to the parties. As part of our commitment to transparency, current proposals from Essentia Health are below. You can see the full proposals here. The proposals offer solutions to concerns raised by our nurses.

Wages and benefits

Essentia Health offered to immediately increase wages to bring them in line with a recently ratified contract in a comparable market (Sandstone).

• Introduces the concept of additional incremental increases every 6 months for the first three years for entry-level nurses to keep them at the bedside during the period hospital systems see the highest turnover.
• Reduces the amount of time to reach the top of the pay scale to 18 years from 25 years, and nurses advance more quickly on the steps after 8 years.
• Includes a 2% across-the-board increase after 6 months.
• Recognizes Mercy hours and Essentia hours to place nurses on the new grid. Most employees will advance between 1 and 2 steps, depending on their hire date and step hours earned.
• Aligns benefits for nurses, including retirement, with the same benefits offered to all other employees at Essentia Health Moose Lake.

Staffing/scheduling

We believe we have resolved all issues regarding staffing and scheduling, including the issues related to on-call.

Other

The parties agreed on some issues that are unique to these negotiations including management rights and union security. We look forward to making more progress on the outstanding issue of successorship.

We look forward to getting a next bargaining session, and we have a tentative date of October 11.

 

Proposed Wage Grid for Appendix A

Estimated headcount	Future estimated headcount for Proposed Wage	Years/Step*	Proposed Wage	Diff from current step scale	% diff from current step scale
3	2	Start	34.42	1.93	5.94%
0	1	6 mos	35.00	2.51	7.73%
1	0	1	35.58	1.74	5.14%
0	1	18 mos	36.10	2.26	6.68%
2	2	2	36.62	1.57	4.48%
4		30 mos	37.20	2.15	6.13%
1	1	3	37.79	0.95	2.58%
4	3	4	38.96	0.76	1.99%
3	5	5	40.60	0.00	0.00%
5	4	6	41.80	0.00	0.00%
4	3	7	42.89	0.22	0.52%
3	2	8	44.19	1.52	3.56%
4	5	9	45.51	1.90	4.36%
6	6	10	46.87	2.36	5.30%
6	9	12	48.28	2.90	6.39%
		15	49.73	4.35	9.59%
2	2		49.73	3.46	7.48%
		18+	51.21	4.94	10.68%
			51.21	4.94	10.68%
5	7		51.21	4.12	8.75%
0	0	25+

 

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – September 6, 2022 Update

Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association met in person again today for contract negotiations. The parties advanced the few remaining outstanding non-economic items and reached agreement on all scheduling issues with the exception of on-call. No tentative agreements were reached; however, we feel important progress was made and that we are in a position to move negotiations forward productively. The next bargaining session is scheduled for September 28.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – September 1, 2022 Update

Essentia Health urges mediation to reach agreement with MNA

Today Essentia Heath issued this news release regarding the MNA strike notification:

Along with several other health systems across the state, Essentia Health on Thursday received a 10-day strike notice from the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). This impacts hospitals in Duluth, Superior and Moose Lake.

We are disappointed that the MNA has called a strike. It is our belief that we have a shared responsibility to care for the communities we’re privileged to serve. At Essentia, we’re proud to have some of the finest nurses in the world; they are an integral part of that commitment. We look forward to reaching an agreement that benefits them while continuing to provide expert, compassionate — and uninterrupted — care for our patients.

Progress has been made in talks, but significant gaps remain.
The MNA is seeking a 32.5% wage increase over three years. Essentia offers competitive wages, sign-on and shift bonuses, tuition reimbursement/assistance and numerous other benefits. A 32.5% wage increase on top of that package is not sustainable. We are currently offering a 10% wage increase over three years.

Because of these gaps, we have repeatedly requested mediation, which the union has consistently declined.

Please note that today’s notice does not guarantee a strike will occur. Essentia will continue to negotiate in good faith in pursuit of a mutually beneficial agreement that supports quality patient care and good local jobs. Additional bargaining sessions are scheduled for next week.

Essentia’s hospitals will remain open and accessible throughout this process. Should a strike occur, we have contingency staffing plans in place to preserve our ability to deliver the highest standards of patient care.

In response to today’s announcement, Essentia joined other Minnesota health systems in filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The MNA failed to give the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services a required notice. It is our hope that by filing this charge we can return our focus to the bargaining table; we must exhaust every option to avoid a work stoppage. That is why we took this step.

We respect the MNA’s right to call a legal strike. But they have not done so in this case, and we have a responsibility to provide patient care without disruption. The MNA would challenge any perceived failure to follow regulatory process on our part. We are holding them to the same level of accountability and urging them to continue bargaining with us.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Moose Lake Bargaining, August 22 Update

Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association met again today for contract negotiations. The session was conducted in-person following previous virtual sessions.

The session focused on a number of outstanding items, including proposals on retirement and insurance. After constructive discussion, Essentia shared a more detailed proposal related to scheduling and the two sides exchanged proposals on other items through the afternoon.

Essentia remains committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a mutually beneficial agreement as quickly as possible. The next bargaining session is scheduled for September 28, with the teams looking for additional dates before then.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Bargaining – August 19, 2022 Update

Patient care is our primary concern and Essentia Health is proud to have some of the best nurses in the country.

We are disappointed that nurses represented by the MNA have voted to authorize a strike. Please note, however, that this vote does not mean a strike is imminent; it gives union leaders the ability to call a strike should they choose that path.

We believe no one wins in a strike – and that we have a shared responsibility to provide quality care to the patients and communities we are privileged to serve. Should it become necessary, we have contingency plans to ensure we can continue to care for our patients in the event of an MNA strike.

We are confident we can reach a new agreement that continues to support quality patient care and good local jobs because of our strong track record of reaching mutually beneficial agreements. In the past five years, Essentia Health has successfully negotiated more than 60 agreements with eight different unions representing 44 bargaining units across our facilities. This includes reaching agreements with the other five bargaining units representing employees in Moose Lake.

Essentia remains committed to reaching an agreement as quickly as possible, leading to an enhanced work experience for MNA-represented nurses at Essentia facilities while continuing to support high-quality patient care. We welcome the participation of a professional labor mediator who can assist the parties in finding common ground toward reaching an agreement. The next bargaining session is scheduled for August 22.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Moose Lake Bargaining, July 26 Update

Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association met again today for contract negotiations. The meeting was cordial, and the parties discussed scheduling in detail as well as other non-economic issues. Essentia remains committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a mutually beneficial agreement as quickly as possible. The next bargaining session is scheduled for August 22.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Moose Lake Bargaining, June 8 Update

6/8/22

Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association met again today for contract negotiations. The parties made some progress, including reaching a tentative agreement on low-need staffing, and plan to continue discussions at the next bargaining session, scheduled for July 26.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Moose Lake Bargaining, April 26 Update

4/26/22

Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association continued contract discussions on April 26, when the MNA shared proposals for scheduling and low need staffing. We are looking for dates to meet next so we can progress toward a mutually beneficial agreement.

Essentia Health and Minnesota Nurses Association Moose Lake Bargaining, April 12 Update

4/12/22

Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association continue meeting and making progress toward a new mutually agreeable contract. We look forward to continuing negotiations in our next session, scheduled for April 26.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below is a representative sample of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the bargaining process and what it means for MNA and Essentia Health.