A special thanks goes out to Cathy Larson and Michele Otto for their role in negotiating a new 3-year contract for the clerical staff at Essentia’s Northern Pines Medical Center. They made their voices heard throughout the process and on October 12 membership voted unanimously to accept a new 3-year deal. The new CBA will force the Employer to pay a 1-hour minimum for any meetings that are scheduled during an employee’s day off where previously, the Employer could pay as little as fifteen minutes.

Throughout the summer, the Minnesota Frontline Worker Pay Working Group has met to try to allocate money to workers affected by the pandemic. UFCW 1189 members and leaders have testified repeatedly to the group, which is made up of six legislators and three appointees from the governor. The money was supposed to be allocated by September 6th, but the group cannot decide who should get bonus pay. Six group members want to extend the pay to food processing workers and retail grocery workers, among other workers who kept Minnesota running during the pandemic.