PAID ADVERTISEMENT You deserve the best care. HIGH-QUALITY CARE For our community. We are very proud of our remarkable colleagues who provide award-winning, nationally recognized care. Thank you to everyone on our care teams for sharing your gifts with our patients. AMERICA'S BEST-IN-STATE EMPLOYERS Forbes 2024 MINNESOTA 5 YEAR CHAMPION SCORING At or Above Average on 95% of clinical measures CMS S-STAR RATED QUALITY CARE 2024 BEST BEST News Tribune BEST OF THE BEST 2024 Essentia Health Essentia supports our clinic nurses and advanced practice providers in their calling to make a healthy difference. We are committed to keeping the community updated on current labor activities. An update on negotiations with Downtown Duluth and Superior Clinic Nurses, Surgery Center Nurses and Solvay House Nurses and Staff Negotiations continue on first contracts When our colleagues at the Essentia Health Duluth Clinic's First, Second and Third Street buildings, the Essentia Health St. Mary's-Superior Clinic, Essentia Health Surgery Center-Miller Hill and Solvay Hospice House each voted to be separately represented by the MNA last fall, we promptly recognized each of their decisions. First contracts in health care - including those with the MNA-typically take about 18 months to finalize. Unfortunately, the MNA delayed starting those negotiations by several months. For these units, Essentia and the MNA have been bargaining between four and 11 months. We have bargaining dates scheduled with each unit through July. Essentia will continue to bargain in good faith to make further progress on these contracts with the MNA. The valued clinic nurse colleagues in these bargaining units are well-compensated and offered flexible schedules, plus rare weekends and no shift work. $69,077 Current minimum starting full-time pay for clinic RN with 2-year degree.* $76,000 Average annual pay for a clinic RN working 32 hours over 4 days/week. Rare weekends, no shift work. 79% Clinic nurses work part- time and have full benefits at 24 hours/week. *Ambulatory nurses with whom we are negotiating first contracts. 400+ Providers across the East Market Trusted professionals Provide about 44% of all patient encounters and 88% of all urgent care encounters An update on East Market Advanced Practice Providers Petition awaiting review by the National Labor Relations Board Our advanced practice providers (APPS), such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants are critical clinicians who have built trusting and caring relationships with their patients over years and in some cases generations. Last fall, APPS across Essentia's east market voted to be represented by the MNA. This past week, the MNA took those APPS out on strike, impacting access to care at clinics and hospitals from International Falls to Brainerd to Duluth. As a result, some of our patients are having to travel further or wait longer for care. Essentia is not bargaining a first contract for Advanced Practice Providers while we appeal the proposed bargaining unit with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Here's why: We believe the current proposed bargaining unit contradicts the NLRB's own rules regarding bargaining units in health care, which separate hospital and clinic staff for the purposes of collective bargaining. Allowing such a large bargaining unit to form across a wide geography comes with serious concerns of access to care. Based on a careful review of case law and precedent, if we began to bargain, we would completely waive our legal right to appeal this decision. On May 14, the NLRB's regional body withdrew a complaint and hearing notice, signaling the importance of a full review from the national board. An APP strike will not speed up the legal review process. While we wait for the NLRB's decision, we will continue to prioritize access to care for our patients. Low turnover 5.39% Essentia East Market vs 9.2% National Average (Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment 2023) Competitive pay Average full-time base salary of $150,000 with nearly 20% increase over the last three years Thank you for putting our patients first! We are very appreciative for the professionalism and commitment to providing excellent care shown by the providers and nurses who continue to work during the strike. We also extend thanks to the many physicians who are stepping up to support our communities during this time. Locations included in proposed APP bargaining unit International Falls Aurora vir Hermantown Duluth Superior Deer River Hibbing Hackensack Grand Rapids Emily Pine River Pequot Lakes Cross Lake Baxter Brainerd Pillager Cloquet Proctor Deerwood ° Sandstone Pierz Hayward Spooner PREPARED AND PAID FOR BY ESSENTIA HEALTH Revised 7/10/2025 PAID ADVERTISEMENT You deserve the best care . HIGH - QUALITY CARE For our community . We are very proud of our remarkable colleagues who provide award - winning , nationally recognized care . Thank you to everyone on our care teams for sharing your gifts with our patients . AMERICA'S BEST - IN - STATE EMPLOYERS Forbes 2024 MINNESOTA 5 YEAR CHAMPION SCORING At or Above Average on 95 % of clinical measures CMS S - STAR RATED QUALITY CARE 2024 BEST BEST News Tribune BEST OF THE BEST 2024 Essentia Health Essentia supports our clinic nurses and advanced practice providers in their calling to make a healthy difference . We are committed to keeping the community updated on current labor activities . An update on negotiations with Downtown Duluth and Superior Clinic Nurses , Surgery Center Nurses and Solvay House Nurses and Staff Negotiations continue on first contracts When our colleagues at the Essentia Health Duluth Clinic's First , Second and Third Street buildings , the Essentia Health St. Mary's - Superior Clinic , Essentia Health Surgery Center - Miller Hill and Solvay Hospice House each voted to be separately represented by the MNA last fall , we promptly recognized each of their decisions . First contracts in health care - including those with the MNA - typically take about 18 months to finalize . Unfortunately , the MNA delayed starting those negotiations by several months . For these units , Essentia and the MNA have been bargaining between four and 11 months . We have bargaining dates scheduled with each unit through July . Essentia will continue to bargain in good faith to make further progress on these contracts with the MNA . The valued clinic nurse colleagues in these bargaining units are well - compensated and offered flexible schedules , plus rare weekends and no shift work . $ 69,077 Current minimum starting full - time pay for clinic RN with 2 - year degree . * $ 76,000 Average annual pay for a clinic RN working 32 hours over 4 days / week . Rare weekends , no shift work . 79 % Clinic nurses work part- time and have full benefits at 24 hours / week . * Ambulatory nurses with whom we are negotiating first contracts . 400+ Providers across the East Market Trusted professionals Provide about 44 % of all patient encounters and 88 % of all urgent care encounters An update on East Market Advanced Practice Providers Petition awaiting review by the National Labor Relations Board Our advanced practice providers ( APPS ) , such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants are critical clinicians who have built trusting and caring relationships with their patients over years and in some cases generations . Last fall , APPS across Essentia's east market voted to be represented by the MNA . This past week , the MNA took those APPS out on strike , impacting access to care at clinics and hospitals from International Falls to Brainerd to Duluth . As a result , some of our patients are having to travel further or wait longer for care . Essentia is not bargaining a first contract for Advanced Practice Providers while we appeal the proposed bargaining unit with the National Labor Relations Board ( NLRB ) . Here's why : We believe the current proposed bargaining unit contradicts the NLRB's own rules regarding bargaining units in health care , which separate hospital and clinic staff for the purposes of collective bargaining . Allowing such a large bargaining unit to form across a wide geography comes with serious concerns of access to care . Based on a careful review of case law and precedent , if we began to bargain , we would completely waive our legal right to appeal this decision . On May 14 , the NLRB's regional body withdrew a complaint and hearing notice , signaling the importance of a full review from the national board . An APP strike will not speed up the legal review process . While we wait for the NLRB's decision , we will continue to prioritize access to care for our patients . Low turnover 5.39 % Essentia East Market vs 9.2 % National Average ( Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment 2023 ) Competitive pay Average full - time base salary of $ 150,000 with nearly 20 % increase over the last three years Thank you for putting our patients first ! We are very appreciative for the professionalism and commitment to providing excellent care shown by the providers and nurses who continue to work during the strike . We also extend thanks to the many physicians who are stepping up to support our communities during this time . Locations included in proposed APP bargaining unit International Falls Aurora vir Hermantown Duluth Superior Deer River Hibbing Hackensack Grand Rapids Emily Pine River Pequot Lakes Cross Lake Baxter Brainerd Pillager Cloquet Proctor Deerwood ° Sandstone Pierz Hayward Spooner PREPARED AND PAID FOR BY ESSENTIA HEALTH Revised 7/10/2025