The contract between MNA Sandstone and Essentia expired on Aug. 1, 2024. The parties began negotiations on July 11 and have met for a total of seven sessions, with the last meeting taking place Wednesday, Dec. 11. The parties have reached numerous tentative agreements during those sessions; however, negotiations have stalled over two primary components in the contract discussions. Essentia provided the MNA bargaining team with a final competitive and comprehensive package proposal on Dec. 11 and asked that nurses be able to vote on it.

Yes. There are a few open issues that were not resolved after much discussion and are included in the package that is being presented for a vote. Two of those items are cross-facility cooperation and wages.

The cross-facility cooperation language is designed to help Essentia make sure we are able to take care of our patients and help our nurses. It gives Sandstone nurses the potential opportunity to fill openings at other Essentia facilities on a purely voluntary basis in circumstances where they might be facing MTO. At the same time, it would help Essentia fill in staffing gaps at Sandstone with qualified trained nurses from other Essentia facilities in the event of PTO, unexpected absence, or other emergencies. The proposal provides safeguards to ensure that there are no negative impacts on Sandstone nurses. It protects bargaining unit work by providing specific conditions that limit the circumstances upon which it could be utilized. It has a positive impact on nurses’ ability to pick up extra shifts and to receive assistance when additional help from bargaining unit nurses is not available.

The MNA bargaining committee indicated that they would not consider the cross-facility language and would not support a package containing the cross-facility language unless and until all other MNA bargaining units were brought to a common table to discuss the concept. In our opinion, MNA objected to the language without regard for what is beneficial for the nurses in Sandstone and the patients in the community.

No. MNA nurses at Deer River ratified a new agreement that contained this language last year. Other non-MNA bargaining units at Essentia have agreed to cross-facility language as well. Our Deer River colleagues have not experienced any of the problems raised by MNA at the table. Nor have any of our other colleagues who have agreed to cross-facility language.

No, none of this is true. We are seeking this language to ensure we are providing the best care possible. Any Essentia nurse filling an open shift assignment that we cannot fill with Sandstone nurses would be expected to have the skills and training to fill in the assignment and would be provided the necessary orientation to deploy their skills. This is similar to using travelers unfamiliar with Essentia from time to time.

No. The opportunity to fill in open assignments at other hospitals is completely voluntary and included for the benefit of Sandstone nurses who may otherwise be facing MTO.

Any nurse volunteering for an open assignment at another Essentia hospital would be paid their current rate, plus any applicable differentials or overtime if the additional hours qualify the nurse for overtime during that shift of subsequent shifts in the pay period. Any travel would be reimbursed consistent with Essentia’s travel policy.

Yes. In addition to the opportunity to pick up other shifts rather than take MTO and to receive assistance from other Essentia nurses when needed, this proposal supports our commitment to provide the best patient care possible. The proposal strengthens our ability to fill open shifts and cover last-minute call-offs and unplanned leaves of absence in a timely manner that does not delay patient care. It also provides opportunities for nurses in Sandstone to pick up shifts that may not be otherwise available and to find other work opportunities when the census is down, as a way to reduce the need for MTOs.

Essentia believes that Sandstone wages should be closely aligned with our Moose Lake facility. These locations are near to each other and often compete for the same nurses when there are open positions. Therefore, Essentia has proposed to mirror Moose Lake’s current wages immediately upon ratification. The average increase a Sandstone nurse will receive upon ratification under the package is 10%. The package also includes across-the-board increases of 3% next year and 2.75% in 2026. The increases next year and in 2026 are consistent with increases Essentia has agreed to with about 20 other bargaining units this year. The overall increase over the three years would be approximately 15.75%, which is more than double the last contract.

First-year wage increases would become effective in the first pay period following ratification.

We understand from the MNA that members will likely vote on our proposal in early January. We will share more specific details as soon as we learn them.

Yes. If bargaining unit members ratify the proposal, Essentia communicated to the MNA that we would provide a $1,250 ratification bonus, prorated by FTE, to all bargaining unit nurses. The ratification bonus applies to this proposal only and does not apply to subsequent votes on different contract proposals.

If the bargaining unit votes to reject the package proposal, then all the terms of the proposal are considered to have been rejected and the open items remain subject to additional negotiation and any of the elements proposed may be changed or no longer offered.