Nearly 2,000 HealthPartners caregivers vote to authorize strike amid ongoing contract dispute

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    HealthPartners workers vote to authorize strike 

HealthPartners workers have authorized an unfair labor practices strike as union leaders seek higher wages and push back against proposed health care cuts.

The medical provider and employees represented by the Minnesota and Iowa chapter of SEIU Healthcare have spent months at the bargaining table without a deal. SEIU leaders say HealthPartners has not offered any raises in the most recent round of negotiations.

The bargaining unit of almost 2,000 HealthPartners employees is comprised of nearly all caregiver categories aside from doctors and dentists.

Contracts expire on Jan. 31, so workers aren’t able to take action on a strike until February, though union representatives say they hope this week’s strike authorization shows how serious they are.

“Hopefully it’s a wake-up call to the higher-ups at HealthPartners that we are very serious about them not only backing off of these harmful proposals but finally coming to the table to reach a fair deal with us,” said Kate Lynch, a licensed practical nurse and a vice president of the local SEIU Healthcare chapter.

In a statement, HealthPartners spokesman Jimmy Bellamy said the company is “disappointed in the decision to authorize a strike” but was hopeful the two sides could reach an agreement.

“We know our colleagues are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and services to our patients, members and community,” Bellamy said. “Our goal, as always, is to reach an agreement that is fair to our colleagues and sustainable for our organization.”
The post Nearly 2,000 HealthPartners caregivers vote to authorize strike amid ongoing contract dispute first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.