Essentia (Page 2)

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

Organizing by nurses at 2nd Street Clinic follows similar efforts in recent months by nurses at Essentia 1st Street Clinic and by Essentia East Market Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)

Duluth) – January 31, 2023 – Tomorrow, February 1, 2024, nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street will hold a press conference to announce that they have organized and are filing for an election vote to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). The move follows recent organizing by nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 1st Street and by Essentia East Market Advanced Practice Providers (APPs).
… Read more about: Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street to announce organizing, filing for union representation  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org
MNA nurses leading efforts to check corporate power in healthcare and keep care in our communities  
(Duluth) – January 5, 2024 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today celebrated the collapse of the proposed corporate healthcare merger between Essentia Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System. For months, the two healthcare companies have pursued plans to combine, raising concerns among patients and workers that the merger could increase costs and limit access to health services, threaten jobs and working conditions, and consolidate even more corporate control over our healthcare system.
… Read more about: Collapse of planned Essentia merger a win for patients, workers and Northland communities  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact:  Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

(Duluth) – December 5, 2023 – Tomorrow, December 6, 2023, nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 1st Street will hold a press conference to announce organizing and filing for an election vote to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association. They filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board on December 5, and an election date has yet to be determined.

“It’s time for change at our clinic,” said Molly Swailes, Infusion RN at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 1st Street.
… Read more about: Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 1st Street to announce organizing, filing for union representation  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact:  Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

(Duluth) – November 27, 2023 – Tomorrow, November 28, 2023, healthcare workers at Essentia East Market Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) will hold a press conference to announce organizing and filing for an election vote to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association.  The APPs filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board on November 27, and an election date has yet to be determined. 

 “I believe that unionizing will give us the collective voice to advocate for necessary changes in our working conditions so that we can bring our best selves to work each day, and for protection against policies that are harmful to staff and patient care.
… Read more about: Healthcare workers at Essentia East Market Advanced Practice Providers to announce organizing, filing for union representation  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – July 27, 2023 – Thursday, Essentia Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System announced they have taken the next step in their planned merger. The following is a statement from Minnesota Nurses Association First Vice President Chris Rubesch, RN, at Essentia Health Duluth.

“As always, MNA nurses’ number one priority is providing the highest quality care to our patients and communities.  We will be reviewing the impact this announced merger will have on nurses, our profession, and our patients.
… Read more about: Statement on Essentia Health and Marshfield Clinic Health Systems planned merger  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses will gather to make signs at new MNA Duluth office on Tuesday, ahead of Friday picket 

(Duluth) – July 17, 2023 – This Friday, Essentia Health nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will hold an informational picket outside of the new St. Mary’s Medical Center amid ongoing staffing concerns at the health system. On Tuesday, nurses will gather to make picket signs at the new MNA Duluth office in the Labor Temple. Details on both events are included below.
… Read more about: Essentia nurses to picket new St. Mary’s Medical Center on Friday amid ongoing staffing concerns  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(Duluth) – March 25, 2022 – At 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022, Duluth nurses will be joined by area labor leaders and elected officials to call on Essentia to do right by workers at their new outpatient surgical center at Miller Hill Health Plaza.  

At the event, Duluth nurses will share their concerns about the effect of Essentia’s corporate healthcare policies on employees and patient care as the health system prepares to open the new surgical facility.
… Read more about: Duluth nurses, elected officials, labor leaders to call on Essentia to do right by workers at new facility  »

Late last year, nurses in North Dakota and northern Minnesota learned of a plan from Essentia Health to pursue acquisition talks with CHI/Common Spirit Health Care. The plan was for Essentia Health to acquire 14 facilities and take over management and services they provide to mainly rural communities across northern Minnesota and North Dakota.

From the start, MNA members were concerned about the implications this deal would have on patient care in many critical access facilities. Nurses were familiar with the past dealings of Essentia in Moose Lake, taking over the small community hospital and immediately shuttering services and sending patients to the system hub in Duluth.
… Read more about: Nurses celebrate a win as CHI/Essentia merger falls through  »

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

 

Workers Worried Patients Will Lose Care Close to Home

(St. Paul) – May 3, 2021 – Nurse and healthcare worker members of the Minnesota Nurses Association have filed a petition with Essentia Health to notify them they are concerned the company’s takeover of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) hospitals will result in less access to patient care, not more.

In January, Essentia Health and Common Spirit, CHI’s parent company, signed a letter of agreement where Essentia would assume control of 14 facilities and numerous clinics throughout Minnesota and North Dakota.
… Read more about: MNA Members File Petition Over Essentia-CHI Takeover  »

By Laura Sayles

MNA Government Affairs Specialist

 

Last Tuesday, MNA nurses staged informational pickets at Essentia St. Mary’s and St. Luke’s hospitals in Duluth.  The nurses that work at those hospitals have been working without a contract since June of this year.  They’ve been in negotiations with management but because they were unable to make headway to come to a solution that works for nurses and the hospital management, nurses want patients to know the nurses’ contract affects the care they receive.

 

MNA nurses made the decision to stage an informational picket when they felt that their voices weren’t being heard in negotiations. 
… Read more about: The Power of Collective Action: Duluth Informational Pickets  »