ROCHESTER, MINN – Members of SEIU Healthcare MN & IA at Mayo Clinic-St. Marys are celebrating the news of huge gains for 1,600 frontline healthcare workers following a yearslong fight that ended with the process heading to a 3-person arbitration board, which announced their decision today.
After an inability to reach an agreement last year, the decision was moved to binding arbitration to decide the parameters of the new contract. This was the first time this process was ever used, showcasing the increased challenges workers are facing at Mayo. The arbiters spent months hearing testimony, hearing from experts and deliberating, with the final decision being released today. Highlights of the agreement include:
- Wage increases over the term of the new contract between 16.5% and 41%. The economic award includes a new minimum wage of $20 per hour that will increase to $21.74 per hour minimum in year three of the contract.
- Retro-pay for raises back to April 23, 2024. Workers will see back pay awards of up to $10,000 depending on the number of hours (regular and overtime) worked in the past 12 months.
- A cap on mandatory overtime hours. Any member with 18 hours of overtime in a pay period will no longer be able to be mandated additional hours.
SEIU members expressed joy at what they were able to win, highlighting that the gains are some of the highest across the whole of Mayo, showcasing the power of union workers standing together for what is right. SEIU members and leaders will hold a press conference on the public sidewalk outside St. Marys on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. responding to the news. (Full details below.)
Mike Szynal-Whitaker, a PCA at Mayo and executive board member of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, shared his excitement about the results of this culmination of the multi-year contract fight:
“I am so proud that our group took on this fight to win what we deserve. Our work is what makes Mayo run, and this result is a great step towards making sure our work is respected. We won these huge wage increases, with back pay, because we organized our co-workers, held info pickets, spoke to the media and held strong at the bargaining table. We hope this shows to other union and non-union workers what our union always says: ‘When We Fight, We Win!’”
Over the last year workers rallied, spoke out to the media, voted to end their current supplemental agreement (allowing them the ability to strike if needed at the end of the next contract) and held an info picket to fight for a fair contract.
Kirsten Schultz, a PCA at Mayo and member of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, spoke out about the work it took to reach this point, and why the results proved the fight was worth it:
“It has been a long time coming, but these amazing results showcase the power of our union and move us towards the pay and respect we deserve for our critical work. These wage increases are so amazing and I’m so proud we stood strong to win this contract. These wage increases are some of the biggest we’ve ever seen and the back pay is going to be amazing for so many people. We’re proud of the work we did and all the work we continue to do. We’re thankful for all of the public support we have and continue to receive to make sure the workers who make Mayo run are treated with the respect we deserve.”
WHAT: SEIU Members at Mayo St. Marys Response to Arbitration Ruling On Contract That Includes Big Wage Increases for Frontline Healthcare Workers
WHEN: Saturday, April 12th at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Public sidewalk outside Mayo St. Marys (Corner of 2nd St SW and 14th Ave SW)
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