Healthcare workers at HealthPartners Stillwater Medical Group (SMG) who are members of SEIU Healthcare MN & IA spoke out Tuesday morning to announce that those voting voted with 99% support for a Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike if the two sides cannot reach a deal.
Ellie Hilton, a Providers Assistant at HealthPartners SMG clinic and member of the union's bargaining team, shared what drove this overwhelming vote:
"Today we are announcing that our membership has voted overwhelmingly to authorize a ULP strike. This is not a position we take lightly, but we are ready to stand united to earn the contract language we deserve. At the bargaining table, we have seen very little movement from the employer. The wages the employer is offering us are, frankly, insulting. Even for our highest paid members, they’re talking about increases that are less than 70 cents per year in their most recent pass. We refuse to accept that this is the best HealthPartners have to offer us. This vote solidifies that we have each other’s back and that we will stand together and demand better. If we don’t get what we deserve from the employer, we’re ready to strike."
Melissa Sirek, a member of the union bargaining team who has worked at Stillwater Medical Group for 34 years, spoke about why workers are taking a stand:
"When I first began working here 34 years ago, it felt like a family. In some ways, it still does. I am so close with my patients and my co-workers. But in other ways, things have changed. At times, it feels like we, the workers, are seen as just a number, and not as people. With what's been happening at the bargaining table it feels like we just keep hearing 'no' and that we are asking for 'too much.' But right now I am working two jobs to live comfortably. That shouldn't be the case for anyone who has worked here for 34 years. I love my work, but I am not properly compensated for the work I do. We're asking for better pay to address the cost of living increases we’ve seen. We’re asking for improvements to PTO and longevity bonuses because we believe if you are dedicated to your employer, you should be rewarded and thanked for your dedication. I'm willing to strike because we all work so hard, and we deserve fair pay and benefits. These improvements are long overdue. I'm willing to fight not just for myself, but for everyone I care about at this clinic: my co-workers, the patients and the providers."
Heather Eggers, a Medical Assistant at HealthPartners SMG and member of SEIU, shared why she voted yes:
"I love my patients and my coworkers, but we are struggling because we are short staffed. The main reason we are short staffed is our pay. It's clear we need to win wage increases to get us closer to a livable wage. We do this work because we care about the health of our community, but at the end of the day we must provide for our families. It would be nice to be supported by Health Partners executives. I hope this vote opens the eyes of our HealthPartners leadership. Our message is clear: we are serious in our demands to win a fair contract for ourselves, our coworkers, and our patients.
The two sides are set to bargain Thursday. If the bargaining team decided to call a strike, they would have to file a 10-day notice. The group brings together over 80 workers who do jobs such as Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and other service-unit healthcare positions in the Family Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics and Specialties departments at the clinic.
The Union will send out an update following Thursday's bargaining.
