Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street vote to unionize

Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street announced Thursday, February 29, that they have unanimously voted to form a union and be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA).

“We are excited to be union nurses and to gain a voice in our workplace so that we can continue to provide high-quality, safe patient care,” said Holly Swedberg, a Registered Nurse at Duluth Clinic 2nd Street. “As we take the next steps toward negotiating our first contract, we look forward to a more equitable, respectful workplace and to develop solutions that will help recruit and retain nurses at our clinic.”

Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 1st Street had also voted to join MNA earlier in the month.

Essentia Health provided WDIO with the following statement:

We thank the 10 Duluth Clinic 2nd Street Building nurses who participated in the election process. As we move forward, we will continue our focus on the patients we are privileged to serve and the excellent care we provide. While we believe maintaining a direct relationship is the best choice for our colleagues, we respect their decision and will bargain in good faith.