St. Paul, MN - Tuesday, October 6 at 12pm, Representative Brad Tabke will speak to striking healthcare workers at St. Francis Medical Center. Over 200 technical Healthcare workers are holding a two-day strike at Allina Abbott-Northwestern Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center to demand fair and safe COVID-19 protections. Workers have a temporary agreement that covers them the first time they need to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure but are forced to use their sick time if exposed a second time. These workers are fighting to ensure they maintain their pay and benefits if they need to quarantine due to potential exposure.
“We have to stand up for these frontline workers who are putting themselves at risk to serve their communities. Every worker deserves safe working conditions and fair pay,” said Rep. Tabke (DFL - Shakopee.) “By supporting these frontline workers, we are not only fighting to keep them safe, but to keep their patients, their families, and everyone they interact with safe.”
The two sides have bargained eight times since May and remain divided on several key issues. The essential healthcare workers are also pushing to get the same health and safety benefits as other Allina workers, such as increased paid time off and improvements to their health insurance and retirement plans.
Additional information is available on the SEIU website, here.
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