Congratulations to the members at Fairview Lakes who overwhelmingly ratified their contract!
The wage increases for the three year contract include a 2% wage increase effective 10/01/12, 1% wage increase effective 10/01/13, and 0.5% wage increase effective 2014.
Contracts should be ready for distribution in October.
If you have any questions, talk to a steward.
After 12 hours of bargaining on September 13, the parties reached a tentative agreement. Details of the agreement will be shared at the ratification vote on Thursday, September 29th. Flyers will be distributed at all work sites with voting times and locations.
We’d like to thank the members for their continues support throughout the bargaining process.
–SEIU/FV Lakes Bargaining Team
For SEIU represented employees at HealthPartners Woodbury Medical Clinic
Over the past year, the Employee Wellness Labor Management Committee has been working to engage SEIU members in living a healthier lifestyle and helping you achieve your wellness goals. The Committee is committed to increasing the level of your health and wellness. We believe that one way to do this is to complete the annual Health Assessment and a well being program.
To provide you assistance, support, and encouragement in completing the Health Assessment and to help you learn more about the various well being programs, a “SEIU Health Bus” will be at Woodbury Medical Clinic on September 18th.
During this time, you will have the opportunity to schedule an appointment to visit the Health Bus where several laptop computers will be available for you to complete your Health Assessment (if you haven’t done so). The results of your Health Assessment are confidential and are not shared with your leader and will not be sent to your clinic or to Human Resources. Upon completion of the Health Assessment, a health coach will be available on the Health Bus to discuss and answer any questions regarding the wide-ranging well-being programs. This process should take no more than 30 minutes from start to finish and will be without loss of pay.
If you participate in the Health Assessment and a well-being program by December 31, 2012, you will receive a $25 Target gift card.
Participation is completely voluntary.
Here are the specific details.
When: Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Woodbury Clinic parking lot
Registration: Contact Melissa Steingraber for a 30-minute appointment
If you have any questions about the Health Bus Visit, please contact your leader. Below is a FAQ that should answer most of your questions.
We hope you are as excited as we are about this! Hope to see you there!
* GHI/SEIU Employee Wellness Labor Management Committee Members
Dawn Barker, Human Resources
Ashley Christenson, SEIU
Sarah Haverkamp, Communications
Brenda Hilbrich, SEIU
Kevin Kuehn, SEIU
Tony Mrnak, Human Resources
Liz Swanson, Human Resources
Janice Ullery, RN, Apple Valley Clinic
Lynelle Wood, Human Resources
What is happening?
On Tuesday, September 18, from 9:00 – 5:00, an SEIU bus will be parked in the Woodbury Medical Clinic parking lot. The bus will have multiple computers set up for you to take the Health Assessment and/or to talk with a Health Coach. You will have up to 30 minutes to participate in these activities without loss in pay. There are five employees computer “stations” on the bus.
Why is this opportunity being offered?
We’re partnering to support you in achieving your wellness goals. Wellness is one important way we live healthier lives, while having the benefit of reducing health care costs. The Health Assessment gives you an inside look on where you are with your health goals and areas that you can focus on. You have access to a variety of free well-being programs to support you on your journey to Be Well.
Who can participate in this pilot?
The SEIU represented employees who work at the Woodbury Medical Clinic can participate. This includes those employees who work in Primary Care, Ob/Gyn, Radiology, Lab, Pharmacy (including Clinical Pharmacy), Nutrition Services, Behavioral Health, and Urgent Care.
Do I have to participate?
No. Your participation is completely voluntary.
Can I still participate if I am not scheduled to work on September 18?
Yes. Please make arrangements with your leader to get scheduled. If your visit occurs during a time that you are not normally scheduled to work, this time will be unpaid.
You may also complete the Health Assessment via HealthParnters.com and click on the Wellness tab.
Will this be available to employees who work at other sites?
This visit to the Woodbury Medical Clinic is being done on a pilot basis. The results from this site visit will be used to analyze if this opportunity will be offered to other sites.
Can the Woodbury Dental and Eye Clinic employees come over and visit the bus on this day?
This pilot is limited to the Woodbury Medical Clinic employees.
Can the other Woodbury Medical Clinic employees come out to the bus?
This opportunity is for SEIU represented employees.
We gave the employer our wage proposal today, and are waiting for a response. It was clear from the demands survey that wages are the top priority for members.
The employer states that we have a lot of work to do to come to a settlement. However, the membership feels we deserve an increase that covers the rising cost of living.
The seniority protection currently in our contract that we’ve fought for is at risk with the employer’s current proposal at the table.
Remember, you can contact any one on the bargaining committee if you have any questions.
Stewards will be contacting the membership and giving updates on negotiations.
Continue to show your support for the bargaining team and wear purple on September 13th.
For more information throughout negotiations call the bargaining hotline at 651-294-8181.
Today was our first day of bargaining. We presented our opening statement to the Employer, which states that our goal for bargaining is to return with a contract that not only recognizes, but also rewards the continued commitment of all members to the Fairview organization.
Talks went well today, and we will continue to move forward at our next bargaining session on August 30th.
Be sure to stay connected throughout bargaining; video updates will be posted online after bargaining sessions, and updates will be recorded on the bargaining hotline. For video updates go to the SEIU Healthcare MN website at www.seiuhealthcaremn.org or our Facebook page at facebook.com/seiuhcmn, and call in to the bargaining hotline at 651-294-8181.
Show your support for the bargaining team and wear purple the next day of bargaining, August 30th.
Contact a union steward if you need any additional buttons, or SEIU lanyards.1
SEIU Members at HealthPartners clinics, join us for the official kick-off of SEIU and HealthPartners health and well-being partnership as we participate in the Employee Walk Day on Wednesday, May 23. Everyone at the clinic is invited to participate.
Many clinics have signed up for the walk; times of the walk vary by location. Check with your clinic supervisors for official times and details. Don’t miss out on great giveaways and fun!
And watch for a fun picture coming soon of SEIU President Julie Schnell and HealthPartners President and CEO Mary Brainerd leading a walk together at the HealthPartners Woodbury Clinic.
Updated 6/30/11 12:15pm
Will the shutdown affect my hospital, clinic, or nursing home?
The short answer is yes. Our facilities rely heavily on state funding to operate and a government shutdown will likely interfere with payments from the state. Right now, the courts are hearing arguments to keep essential services running even if the state government shuts down, but a final ruling has not yet been made. Stay tuned for more updates as information becomes available. Judge Gearin ruled on June 29th that the State will continue to make Medicaid/MA and MNCare payments to hospitals and nursing homes.
Will I get paid during the shutdown?
We will continue to enforce our collective bargaining agreements during any government shutdown including applicable payday and wage provisions.
I’m a licensed healthcare worker. How will the shutdown affect me?
The Minnesota Board of Nursing and the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice have said that licensed health-care professionals will not be able to renew their licenses during a government shutdown, which would occur July 1 if the governor and Legislature fail to reach a budget agreement by June 30. Therefore, any professionals whose licenses expire during a shutdown – be they nurses, pharmacists, etc. – will then be unable to practice.
Why is the state government facing a shutdown?
The Republican majority in the legislature passed a budget with $1 billion in funding losses for our hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. Governor Dayton vetoed that budget, and now the state faces a shutdown. If the Republican budget passed, it would put thousands of our jobs at risk and cut off thousands of Minnesotans from access to basic medical care. Worst of all, it would balance the budget on the backs of our seniors and people with disabilities – which is exactly what these legislators promised not to do. Governor Dayton’s budget proposal asks the richest 2% of Minnesotans to pay more so we can maintain quality healthcare and long-term care. The rest of us would not pay a dime more in taxes.
What can I do to speak out against the shutdown?
Join SEIU and our allies at a Shutdown Eve vigil on Thursday, June 30th from 9pm-11pm on the steps of the Capitol. RSVP here.
Minneapolis – March 9, 2011 – An inaugural member of the Partnership for Quality Care, a national labor-management partnership of health care workers, HealthPartners and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota applaud the report released Wednesday that calls for the health care industry to provide tangible solutions for issues ranging from hospital readmissions to preventable errors in care.
Since the inception of the PQC in 2007, HealthPartners has worked with our SEIU Healthcare Minnesota partners to create innovative approaches to improve patient safety and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions. One example is our Medication Therapy Management program.
In the MTM program, pharmacists represented by SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, meet one-on-one with patients, examining the medications (both prescribed and over-the-counter) and ensuring that drugs are working the best way possible. Patients working with MTM pharmacists can ensure their combination of drugs are safe, they can feel better because drugs may be in better alignment and they can also save money through the elimination of some drugs or the increased use of generics.
On average, MTM pharmacists – who work at 16 different HealthPartners clinics – make three medicine recommendations to each new patient they see.
The MTM program also provides health benefits to members. In the initial pilot, participants showed a 117 percent increase in members with diabetes optimal control quality, a 67 percent increase in blood pressure control and more than $200,000 in saved hospital costs when compared with a control group.
According to a study in the March issue of The American Journal of Emergency Medicine (based on 2007 data from a government database of 27 million visits to 970 emergency rooms in 27 states) about 700,000 Americans were taken to the hospital after taking drugs, both legal and illegal. These trips cost more than $1.4 billion in emergency charges alone. The same study reports that antidepressants and pain medications were responsible for 45 percent of all emergency room visits for drug-related poisonings.
The MTM program and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota-represented HealthPartners pharmacists are working to improve these statistics. Today, the program continues to support patients with medication reviews, suggestions for cost savings, and advice on how to safely and effectively take medications.
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners family of health care companies serves more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community.
SEIU Healthcare Minnesota unites 15,000 hospital, clinic, nursing home, and homecare workers in Minnesota’s acute and long term care industries. Our union is dedicated to ensuring quality, affordable healthcare for every American and improving the lives of all of Minnesota’s working families. For more information, go to www.seiuhealthcaremn.org
ST. PAUL, MN — SEIU Healthcare Minnesota members at HealthPartners clinics voted Thursday to overwhelmingly ratify a new three year contract that:
“This contract ensures that HealthPartners continues to be a great place to work and a leader in patient care,” said Jean Pfarr, a registered nurse at HealthPartners Riverside. “By standing together, we have set a standard for healthcare workers – a standard that includes quality, affordable health insurance and a commitment to training and workforce development.”
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