Allina workers at 2 locations authorize 2-day strike
[KSTP]
UPDATE:
The strike notice has been withdrawn by the union.
Members of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota who work at two Allina Heath locations have voted to approve a two-day strike.
Over 90% of the union members who voted over the last two weeks supported the strike.
The union filed a 10-day notice that a strike would begin at 6 a.m. on Sept. 14 and last until 6 a.m. Sept. 16 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee and Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
According to a release from SEIU, the vote for a strike comes after months of contract negotiations.
According to the union, the bargaining sides remain divided on having language in the worker’s contract that will ensure benefits for potential exposure to the coronavirus.
Jobs performed by the striking employees include medical lab technicians, polysomnographer technicians, surgical techs, respiratory therapists and diagnostic techs.
Allina Health provided the following statement to KSTP regarding the matter:
"Allina Health is committed to reaching a fair and equitable contract settlement with the approximately 220 employees at Abbott Northwestern Hospital (ANW) and St. Francis Regional Medical Center (SFRMC). The contracts covering these employees expired on June 30 and were extended by mutual agreement through July 31. SEIU was not interested in an additional extension beyond that date.
"Throughout these negotiations, Allina Health has consistently offered proposals that demonstrate our commitment to our employees, while also reflecting the current financial realities caused by the pandemic. Despite receiving over $170 million in government support for COVID-19, Allina Health still experienced financial losses of $152 million through the end of June. The SEIU’S proposal for a 13% wage increase over the life of the contract, among other economic enhancement proposals, is simply unrealistic in this current environment. Allina Health has offered 2.25% over the life of each contract and is not seeking any concessions in current contract language.
"Strikes are counter-productive and will not bring the parties closer to a negotiated agreement. It is particularly disappointing that the union would use this tactic in the middle of a global pandemic when Allina employees are focused on delivering needed health care to the communities we serve. It is also disappointing that the union would state publicly that this is a strike about safety issues, when nearly all of their concerns expressed at the bargaining table in 8 negotiating sessions have been about economic issues. The majority of Allina Health employees have already made economic sacrifices in response to our financial situation.
"Our most important priority is providing high quality care to the community during this unprecedented time. And while we still hope to avoid a labor disruption, we are prepared to continue to provide a full array of patient care services at ANW and SFRMC throughout the duration of a work stoppage by our union employees."