Essentia Health Strike at Standstill

With no meetings scheduled, Essentia and union workers are stuck in an open-ended strike

DEER RIVER, Minn. – As workers strike for better pay, Essentia Health says some patient services may be suspended at their Deer River location.

Workers with the Service Employees International Union held a picket line Friday, as their open-ended strike for wage increases drags on. Those who braved the cold claimed the wages at the Deer River facilities, are lower than at any other Essentia facility in the state.

Essentia has stated that they are open to further negotiations, even though several previous talks have yet to produce an agreement. A representative acknowledged that, currently, there are no meetings scheduled.