Minnesota - Walker Methodist Employees Win First Contract

Minneapolis

Victory at Last! – Walker Methodist Health Center workers Joan Evans, Nickson Nyankabaria and Nickson Kihima vote to accept their first contract. 

Photo Credit: Jessica Hayssen

After a five-year struggle, more than 400 employees of Walker Methodist Health Center in Minneapolis have their first contract!

The new agreement runs through September 2009. It was overwhelmingly ratified in April by two separate bargaining units of Local 3532 (Council 5). The largest group consists of some 350 nursing assistants, food service employees, maintenance workers, housekeepers and activity aides. About 60 LPNs make up the second group.

Their battle began in 2003 when the two units held elections to join Council 5. After management appealed, the LPNs’ votes were sealed. The employees then launched an intensive campaign to build support in the faith community and among the general public to get Walker’s management to withdraw its appeal. Last year, the National Labor Relations Board sided with the workers. Contract negotiations started this spring.

“The contract will provide job security, which we’ve never had before. It will also give us a voice on the job,” says Nickson Nyankabaria, a restorative nursing aide and a member of the union’s negotiating team.

“The contract gives us peace of mind,” adds LPN Joan Nyakundi. “I hope we keep an open door with communications between workers and management.”

Contract highlights include a formal grievance procedure; a labor/management committee to address staffing, scheduling and other issues; holiday pay and paid breaks; and a 1.12-percent wage hike, retroactive to October 2007, with further pay negotiations to begin this October.