Essentia Pharmacists Negotiations Update 4/16/26

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Essentia Health and UFCW Pharmacists completed Session Two of contract negotiations over two days, using an Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) approach. Both parties met in person and focused on identifying shared interests, ongoing challenges, and opportunities to improve pharmacy practice, engagement, and sustainability.

Contract Discussions

Added new Board of Pharmacy Specialty Certification Allowances.
Agreement on holiday language and moving sections for better readability.
Agreement on bereavement leave.
Agreed on both base wages and mutually beneficial reimbursement options for employees.

Pharmacy Practice Subcommittee

Pharmacy Practice Subcommittee has developed a charter and labor is in the process of nominating committee members.

Next Steps

Labor will take the tentative agreement to membership to vote (link below)

Pharmacy Vote Doc.pdf
A text message will be sent to members with electronic voting details.
Labor and Management will work on redlined contract language.

Parties agreed on a three-year contract from May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2029