HealthPartners Contract Extension Vote

Dear Local 12 members at HealthPartners,

As you know, the current contract between HealthPartners and OPEIU Local 12 is expiring on November 30, 2020.  While we are actively preparing for contract bargaining, this year has presented its own set of challenges.  The COVID 19 pandemic has caused far reaching financial consequences.  HealthPartners has already made decisions to address the budgetary situation caused by the pandemic, including furloughs and clinic closures.  Contract bargaining under normal circumstances is difficult, with the Employer often looking for ways to save money while the Union strives for financial and other gains. 

After reviewing the results of the bargaining survey and seeing that over 70% of HealthPartners members responded to the bargaining survey in favor of an extension, we learned that HealthPartners is also open to an extension. The proposal is to extend the current contract by an additional year, making the new contract expiration date of November 30, 2021.  Attached to this email you will find a document with Frequently Asked Questions about what this means.  This would allow for more time for financial recovery and lock in everything in the current contract, including the current insurance premiums and copays.  As members of Local 12 at HealthPartners, it is up to you to decide to accept the contract extension or proceed with bargaining this year as usual. 

There will be options for in person voting and online voting.  We want to make sure that everyone can have their voice heard, regardless of whether they are at work, are working from home, or on furlough.  Please be advised that you cannot vote in person AND online.  Each member is entitled to one vote.  You do not need to work at the location to be able to vote at the location.  Please feel free to vote in whatever way is most convenient to you.  For in person voting, please take safety precautions by wearing a mask, social distancing, etc.

• In person voting: Additional information to come on where specifically to go at each location.
• Monday, July 27^th – 11:00AM to 2:00PM
• Specialty Center 401: 401 Phalen Blvd St Paul, MN 55130 (serving both the 401 and 435 buildings).
• Arden Hills: 3930 Northwoods Dr, Arden Hills, MN 55112
• 180 Building: 180 5th St East, St. Paul, MN 55101; 10^th floor Elevator Lobby
• West (St. Louis Park): 1665 Utica Ave S, St Louis Park, MN 55416
• Apple Valley: 15290 Pennock Ln, Apple Valley, MN 55124

• Tuesday, July 28^th – 11:00AM to 2:00PM
• HealthPartners Corporate Office: 8170 33rd Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55425
• Coon Rapids: 11475 Robinson Dr, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
• Como: 2500 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55108

• Wednesday, July 29^th – 11:00AM to 2:00PM
• HealthPartners Corporate Office: 8170 33rd Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55425
• Neuroscience: 295 Phalen Blvd, St Paul, MN 55130
• St. Paul (Wabasha):  205 Wabasha St S, St Paul, MN 55107
• Woodbury: 8450 Seasons Pkwy, Woodbury, MN 55125

• There will be signs and balloons for additional visibility so please look for those markers.

• Online voting:
• Online voting will be available on Thursday, July 30^th and Friday, July 31^st.  A voting link will be sent to everyone on Thursday morning and votes will be counted until 5:00PM on Friday.

There will be numerous opportunities to have additional questions addressed that are not listed in the Frequently Asked Questions document. You can also reach out to Traci Murphy, Union Representative, at tmurphy@opeiu12.org or via phone at 612-432-6559.

Another date that is quickly approaching is the expiration of the current Letter of Understanding addressing furloughs and the extension of insurance benefits at the end of July.  We are actively working on this with HealthPartners and their attorney and will have updates as soon as possible.  With many members still on furlough with no set return date, we know that it is critically important to extend these benefits further. 

The upcoming clinic and department closures are also being worked on as we speak.  We know this is a stressful and anxious time for everyone.  Please be patient while all the details are being ironed out and you can expect further updates shortly.  Please sign the petition (if you haven’t already) demanding that Andrea Walsh and HealthPartners value people over profits and reconsider the decision to close the affected locations.  Our union strongly feels this is exactly the wrong move in the middle of this pandemic.  Our union and our HealthPartners sister union SEIU Healthcare MN are fighting back hard against the closures, including a community rally on Thursday, July 30 from 6-7 pm outside Riverside Clinic.  The address is 2220 Riverside Avenue South in Minneapolis (on the West Bank).

We sincerely hope that you and your families are as safe and healthy as possible.  Please take care of yourselves and take care of each other.  We will get through this together.

In Solidarity,

Traci E. Murphy

Union Representative

OPEIU Local 12

Cell: 612-432-6559 (Texting OK)

Fax: 651-639-1210