Essentia Health Nurses and APPs Strike Comes to an End

DULUTH, Minn.– After multiple days of striking, the strike by Essentia Health nurses and APPS is coming to an end.

The nurses and Advanced Practice Providers have been striking for numerous reasons.

But now, despite no contract resolution, both nurse and APP strikes are coming to an end.

This is happening because progress is being made to bargain with numerous groups.

At the same time, the nurses and APPs felt the need to return to their patients.

“Now, after 14 days of being on strike, Essentia says they’ll add more bargaining dates that they’ll come to the table so we can make real progress towards a respectful contract that protects both patients and workers, a contract that guarantees the job we’re hired to do is the job we actually get to do, and that it doesn’t get changed without our agreement,” said Julie Flotten, Oncology Nurse 1st Street Essentia Clinic.

Essentia officials said, there are dates set in August to communicate negotiations.

There are plans to streamline bargain with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd street clinics in Duluth, as well as the clinic in Superior.

Despite each clinic experiencing different contracts, they will be meeting together since they have similar negotiations.

“These are all first-time contracts. So, every single one of these starts off as a blank piece of paper, you know. And some of the contracts can be upwards of 100 pages long, so there’s a lot of work to be done, and we continue to really focus on putting that time in and quality and productive time,” said Beth Young, Chief Nursing Officer Essentia Health.

While this is happening, reintegration plans are also in place.

And Essentia officials said that 25% of the nurses have already returned, and 70 % of the APPs have also returned to work.