MEDIA ADVISORY
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). Clinic nurses will be joined at the press conference by Chris Rubesch, RN at Essentia-Duluth and MNA President.
“Over the course of my career, I have seen part-time positions, flexibility, and work-life balance disappear. Working with less and doing more has become the new standard,” said Holly Swedberg, an RN in the Outpatient Behavioral Health department at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street. “As professionals, we want the best for our patients, and we want the time and support required to deliver our best. Collective bargaining will afford us a voice to improve both patient care and our working conditions.”
Nurses at Essentia’s 2nd Street Clinic are seeking a union to be able to collaboratively negotiate employment terms, work conditions, and patient care standards, thus leading to greater job satisfaction, nurse retention, and quality patient care. The nurses filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board this week; an election date has yet to be determined.
PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS
When: Thursday, February 1, 2024, 5:30 P.M.
Where: Hall B at the Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Rd, Duluth, MN
Who: Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street
What: Press conference to announce organizing and filing for an election to be represented by MNA
Why: To collaboratively negotiate and improve employment terms, working conditions, and patient care standards