Stillwater, MN – More than 80 healthcare workers at HealthPartners Stillwater clinics have been on strike since Tuesday, July 8. The workers are represented by the Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Heather Eggers is a medical assistant in family medicine with HealthPartners Stillwater. Eggers said, “We’re out here because there have been seven bargaining sessions, and the employer has come back with less than adequate compensation. We’re fighting for our wages over the next three years to be 5.75%, 5% and 4% and for better teaming benefits, floating benefits and other things that would help us do our jobs better.”

Workers decided it was time to show management how serious they are and took a strike vote. Voter turnout was extremely high and resulted in a 99% vote to strike. The union then filed a legally required ten-day notice of their intent to strike and began on July 8. The workers decided they would strike for four days, ending at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 11.

At the center of the dispute are wages. The union workers say that management has refused to come to the table with raises that respect their work. As the strike continues, HealthPartners is bringing in temporary replacement workers. The scab workers are paid significantly more than the workers on strike to do the same work.

In addition to across the board raises, the workers are seeking compensation for duties beyond their normal work when required. The workers are asked to perform “teaming,” which means that when a particular provider in the system is short-handed the extra work is performed by these workers in addition to their normal workloads. They believe they should be paid extra for this work as they are doing more than one person’s job. Similarly, they would like to be paid extra when they are required to float to areas other than where their normal job is based.

Fight Back! joined the HealthPartners workers on the picket line on Thursday. The picket was well attended, and community and labor supporters showed solidarity with the striking workers. It was a hot and humid day, and a local ice cream truck set up across the street from the picket line and was giving out free ice cream in support of the strike. Many cars passing by on the street honked, as people cheered and waved at the workers in support.

At 11 a.m. on Thursday July 10, an announcement went out across the picket line that management called and wants to go back to the bargaining table. The union and management will meet on Friday, July 11 to resume bargaining.

Eggers had a message for management, “Look at our support out here. We have had numerous people from the community coming by and supporting us, our patients coming by and supporting us. We’re here for the community so let’s listen to them and pay us what we are worth.”

The strike will continue on the sidewalks of HealthPartners Stillwater on Friday even as bargaining resumes.

#StillwaterMN #MN #Labor #Strike #SEIU #Healthcare #Feature

Stillwater, MN – On April 17, a caravan of 200 protesters descended on the Twin Cities suburb of Stillwater to protest in front of Pete Orput’s home. Orput is the Washington County Attorney who decided what charges to bring on Officer Kim Potter, who killed Daunte Wright on April 11.

As protesters gathered in front of Orput’s home, several people held a big banner reading, “We demand murder charges for killer cop, Kimberly Porter.” Others stood in solidarity for Daunte Wright holding signs like “Justice for Daunte Wright,” “Bring murder charges against Kim Potter” and “Justice for #Daunte Wright.”

Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Minnesota Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) explained, “If Mohamed Noor can be charged with murder on an accidental discharge, Kim Potter can be charged with murder as well. I want police officers to be charged just like everyone else. They are not above the law.”

Chants were heard throughout the action including, “If we don’t get it, shut it down!” “What kind of charges are we asking for? Murder!” “Black lives, they matter here!” and “We gonna get our liberation, you can’t stop the revolution!”

DJ Hooker of Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar (TCC4J) asserted, “The police keep on using the same excuses over and over. We’re gonna stay in these streets to make sure we get justice and systemic change.”

Hooker also spoke of the National Guard’s overbearing presence seen throughout the Twin Cities throughout the last week, “I now know what it feels like to be at war. We are out here facing a military occupation.”

Nekima Levy Armstrong, an organizer with Racial Justice Network and civil rights attorney stated, “Pete Orput is the one who makes the decision of what charges were put on Kim Potter. She needs to be brought up on murder charges, point blank.”

As more people arrived at Orput's home, neighbors came out. At first, they didn't know what was going on but once the surprise subsided, most appreciated the demonstrators. While most were reserved with comments, they stated, “How can the shooting be a mistake?” In disbelief, neighbors continued to chime in, “She's been on the force for 26 years, it's just horrible, things have to change.”

Dr. Raj of the Minnesota NAACP said, “Enough is enough! We are no longer subjected to reform. We need to question the foundations that are giving money to the police departments that continue to oppress people. We have to restore our humanity and totally transform the oppressive police system.”

After the rally in front of Orput’s home, a march around the neighborhood closed out the action. Although a few neighbors seemed hostile, many neighbors showed support with waves and fists raised in solidarity as the march passed.

#StillwaterMN #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #PeteOrput #DistrictAttorney