Essentia Nurses Take to Picket Lines Over Contract Negotiations

Hundreds picketed outside of St. Mary's in Duluth in frustration over contract negotiations.

Hundreds of nurses took to the streets outside of St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth for an informational picket.

The nurses have been in contract negotiations with Essentia Health since April.

The nurses called for better staffing and to not lose or take any concessions on their current healthcare plans.

The Minnesota Nurses Association called the lack of progress frustrating.

“We have good healthcare, we just want to keep our health care. We don’t want to go to a lesser one that costs nurses more money and it’s not just nursing that should have good coverage, every should have good coverage,” said Registered Nurse Cathy Malec.

Nurses from Duluth and Superior were joined by other unions in a sign of solidarity.