Frustrated by a contract offer they say shows disrespect for hospital workers, Service Employees International Union Local 113 is conducting an unusual petition drive to try to force employers back to the bargaining table.

On March 9, a multi-employer association representing nine Twin Cities hospitals presented what it characterized as its final offer, the union said. The proposal "does not meet any of our goals," Julie Schnell, president of Local 113, said at a news conference Thursday.

The union has not scheduled a vote on the offer nor has it proceeded toward a strike. Rather, Local 113 members are discussing the proposal with other members and asking them to sign a petition opposing it. Schnell said she expects the petition effort to take at least a couple weeks.

"We think that it is very important that the membership is fully educated," she noted.

The union does not believe talks are at an impasse and wants the employers to return to the bargaining table, she said.

The contract expired Feb. 28 for 3,500 nursing assistants, dietary workers, housekeeping staff and others at HealthEast Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis, HealthEast St. John's in Maplewood, Children's Hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Fairview University Medical Center-Riverside Campus, Fairview Southdale in Edina, North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale and Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. They are covered by a multi-employer contract with Local 113.

A key issue is health care coverage ? which the union says is out of reach for many health care workers.

Carmen Phillips, a four-year clinical support associate at St. Paul Children's, said that on a salary of $26,000 a year, she struggles to pay $600 a month to insure herself and one child.

"Right now, health insurance is completely unaffordable in our hospitals," she said.

The multi-employer association has offered to increase the employer portion of health care payments by 5 percent ? but that's not enough to counter increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles for workers, Schnell said. The proposal calls for wage increases of 4 percent the first year, 4 percent the second year and 3 percent the third year ? less than those contained in the contract that just expired, she said.

She characterized the proposed pension increase as "very small" and said the hospitals fail to include employment security provisions sought by the union.

"It's been a very anti-worker, anti-union negotiating process," she said.

In addition to the petition drive, the union is organizing against the effort by North Memorial Health Care and Fairview to build a new hospital in Maple Grove. The two hospitals, which are part of the multi-employer association, are in competition for the project with Allina Hospitals and Clinics.

"We will be taking steps to make those concerns and our voice heard" in the approval process for the new hospital, Schnell said.

Just before Feb. 28, the union reached a settlement with Allina-owned hospitals on a separate contract covering 2,500 workers.

Allina has taken a cooperative approach that respects the union's "Together for Quality Care" campaign launched in December, which focuses on improving quality and access to health care for workers, their families and communities, the union said.

Related article
Union enlists community in fight for fair hospital contract