Duluth

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Duluth, Essentia, Home

My name is Jenna, and I am a Hospitalist at Essentia Health in Duluth.

I first experienced Duluth as a 20-year-old college student visiting with my mom to run the Garry Bjorklund half marathon. I thought it was a beautiful and intriguing place. At that time I was in school in Madison, WI and still figuring out my path in life. A few years later I was a physician assistant (PA) student at Duke in Durham, NC. I had pivotal student rotation experiences—I took care of all ages, I saw discrepancies in care and facilities on different sides of town and the state, I saw life born and touched the hands of life passing away.
… Read more about: They live here, too: The providers who keep northeast Minnesota healthy  »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Labor Unions, Press Releases, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Erin Moriarty
(c) 651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

More than 400 APPs highlight their vital role in healthcare and call for leadership to respect and support their contributions.

(Duluth, MN) – Sept 22, 2025 – This National Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Week, more than 400 APPs in Essentia Health’s East Market are celebrating their essential role in healthcare while demanding that Essentia’s leadership finally recognize their contributions. Nearly half of all patients in the Essentia system are cared for by an APP, making them the backbone of care in northern Minnesota.
… Read more about: APPs Celebrate National APP Week, Caring for Nearly Half of Essentia Patients  »

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In: Duluth, Essentia, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham

651-269-1418

shannon.cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

(Duluth, MN) – August 20, 2025 – The following is a statement released by Minnesota Nurses Association President Chris Rubesch, RN: 

Nurses and healthcare workers at Essentia Health deserve a safe workplace where they can care for patients without fear of intimidation or retaliation. During MNA’s strike in July, clinic nurses and APPs on the picket line received threats from their direct supervisor at Essentia’s Superior and 3rd Street Urgent Care Clinics. He threatened to run them over with his car and shoot them with a paintball gun while they exercised their legal right to strike.
… Read more about: Statement from MNA President on Essentia supervisor’s threats to workers  »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Nurses, Nurses Strike, Nursing, Press Releases, ULP Strike, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

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

 

Duluth, MN – July 25, 2025 – On Tuesday, clinic nurses, surgery center nurses, healthcare workers at Solvay Hospice House, and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) concluded a powerful strike across Essentia Health facilities that involved nearly 700 frontline workers. The two-week strike by nurses and healthcare workers and 13-day strike by APPs brought statewide attention to Essentia’s unfair labor practices, including unlawful intimidation, surveillance, and clear attempts to bust the union. 

Yet, even after the strike’s end, Essentia is continuing to keep on travel nurses, when former striking healthcare workers are available and want to return to work. 
… Read more about: Negotiations move forward as Essentia delays return of striking workers  »

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In: Action, Duluth, Essentia, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Organizing, Press Releases, ULP Strike, Unions

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.
… Read more about: Nurses Report Threats of Physical Violence and Intimidation from Supervisor at Essentia Health Clinics  »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

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

(Duluth, MN) – July 10, 2025 – On the third day of an ongoing Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike by nurses and healthcare workers at Essentia Health, Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) officially joined the walkout, escalating pressure on Essentia to stop violating federal labor law and begin bargaining in good faith. Picket lines expanded across Duluth and Superior, with a new line established in Virginia, Minnesota, as APPs took their place alongside striking clinic workers. 

Despite a clear ruling from the National Labor Relations Board that Essentia should begin bargaining with the APPs’ union, Essentia has continued to defy that order—refusing to meet, refusing to negotiate, and continuing to make unilateral changes to working conditions without bargaining. 
… Read more about: APPs join Essentia ULP strike as community support grows and pressure mounts on employer to bargain  »

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In: Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

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

(Duluth, MN) – July 9, 2025 – On the second day of the ongoing unfair labor practice strike in Duluth and Superior, nurses and healthcare professionals across all six Essentia Health bargaining units arrived at negotiations prepared to make progress — only to be met with rejection and dismissal. Essentia Health barred most teams from participating, sending them back to the picket lines, while agreeing to negotiate with only Superior and Third Street Clinic representatives. No meaningful negotiations took place and no progress was made towards resolving the unfair labor practices.
… Read more about: Essentia nurses and healthcare workers turned away from bargaining by employer on second day of ULP strike, acute care nurses announce tentative agreement vote results  »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

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

Lauren Bloomquist
651-376-9709
Lauren.Bloomquist@mnnurses.org

(Duluth, MN) – July 8, 2025 – Nurses and healthcare workers at multiple Duluth and Superior healthcare facilities began their Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against Essentia Health today, with picket lines spread across the region. Despite their hospital nurse counterparts settling a tentative agreement with Essentia on July 4, Essentia refused to meet with the now striking workers at any of the additional seven bargaining dates provided by MNA prior to the ULP strike.
… Read more about: After successful first day on ULP strike, nurses and healthcare workers renew call for Essentia to negotiate in good faith and settle ULPs   »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Press Releases, ULP Strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

 

(Duluth, MN) – July 4, 2025 – This morning, after countless hours at the bargaining table, Essentia Twin Ports acute care hospital nurses reached a tentative agreement with their employer. As part of the settlement, Essentia has resolved its Unfair Labor Practices with the nurses, averting a strike. Nurses will vote whether to ratify the agreement in the coming weeks.

Nurses achieved updates to staffing language, including a one-year freeze on reductions to current staffing ratios. Nurses also fought off Essentia’s Management Rights clause, protected Labor Management Committee language, and achieved a wage increase of 9.75% spread over the three years of the contract.
… Read more about: BREAKING: Essentia Twin Ports hospital nurses avert strike, reach deal; Clinic nurses and APPs continue toward ULP strike  »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Press Releases, St. Lukes, ULP Strike, Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

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

 

(Duluth, MN) – July 3, 2025 – Today, after months of contentious bargaining with hospital executives, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) at Aspirus St. Luke’s hospital have pulled their 10-day strike notice and cancelled their Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Strike. Nurses negotiated for more than 30 straight hours leading to a pending tentative agreement, with minor details left to finalize early next week.

Nurses have agreed to cancel their ULP strike after significant movement was made across the bargaining table.
… Read more about: BREAKING: Aspirus St. Luke’s hospital nurses pull ULP strike notice with pending deal; Essentia nurses and APPs prepare for action  »