Negotiations at Heritage Manor are progressing slowly. The last time we met, the Employer offered an economic package that would result in substantive raises for some and not for others, as well as reducing the length of the current wage scales down to 10 years. Our response to the Employer was that this proposal was unacceptable for a number of reasons. First was that the market comparative data they were using wasn’t accurate for the Iron Range area.
"I've been asking CNAs to write statements and stories about their situation since the pandemic started. This one came to me recently out of Chisholm, on the Iron Range. I thought this one illustrated beautifully what the members in this position do, and why they are so crushed by what they are experiencing with not only themselves, but their residents. We need to keep looking for solutions and sources of hope for these workers!" - Adam Evenstad, Union Representative from the Duluth Office
Read Paige's experience in her own words below
On January 5, 2022 UFCW 1189 members at The Waterview Pines voted unanimously to ratify wage increases negotiated by their committee. As many of us know, direct care staff, such as CNAs, have historically gotten the lion’s share of wage increases. This time around, the word of the day was solidarity as committee members Elizabeth Ellise, Jessica Larson and Nikole Snyder stood firmly in support of each other and all members in every department, stating they would not leave the table without getting a substantial increase for the often-forgotten support staff.
After seven years as a UFCW 1189 Steward, Joe Jones, of Cornerstone Villa in Buhl, is moving on to another career. During his tenure Joe was a charismatic advocate for his fellow workers. He instituted monthly meet and greets with the rep and there was never a person that didn’t know him or know that he was the one they could go to for help or just a friendly ear. He always made sure everyone was heard.
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.
Union Representative
