Nurses Report Threats of Physical Violence and Intimidation from Supervisor at Essentia Health Clinics

Union Demands Immediate Action After Weeks of Silence from Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

(Duluth, MN) – July 18, 2025 — Nurses at Essentia Health’s Superior and 3rd Street Clinics have reported multiple instances of threatening and retaliatory behavior by their direct supervisor. Despite formal notification to Essentia Health management on June 26, the employer has taken no public action and has not responded to the reports.

The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), representing the affected nurses, is demanding the immediate cessation of this behavior and accountability from Essentia Health.

Workers have documented several incidents, including threats of violence, where the supervisor stated that he wanted to take his paintball gun and shoot nurses on strike, and, during a legal picket by MNA nurses, he said he could “run down picketers now.”

“These are not isolated comments. They are part of a pattern of hostility, retaliation, and workplace intimidation,” said Kiera Simmons, RN, a nurse at Essentia Health. “Essentia has had this information for over three weeks. Their continued silence places our members at risk and signals a failure of leadership.”

MNA is also filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in response to these threats and retaliatory actions by management.

“Our members deserve a workplace free from threats and harassment. We will not allow this behavior to be normalized, and we will not wait in silence while Essentia Health fails to act,” said MNA President Chris Rubesch, RN, a nurse at Essentia.

“Essentia has publicly promoted a zero-tolerance policy for intimidation around strike participation—but in practice, they appear to only enforce it when protecting those who cross the strike line. All employees deserve the same protections, regardless of their decision. Right now, Essentia is sending a message: some voices matter more than others.”

MNA is calling on Essentia Health to remove this supervisor from all supervisory duties, initiate a thorough investigation, and provide a written response outlining the steps to be taken to protect staff and prevent further abuse.