One Day Strike Scheduled at Mayo Clinic Albert Lea Hospital

Albert Lea, MN (KROC-AM News) - The union representing nearly 80 Mayo Clinic employees in Albert Lea has announced it is officially giving notice of its intent to hold a one-day strike later this month.

The members of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota are planning the one-day work stoppage on December 19th to protest the lack of progress in contract negotiations which began two years ago. The union certified nursing assistants, housekeepers, and other support personnel at the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Albert Lea voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike authorization resolution last month.

A statement on the union’s website claims after the strike authorization vote, the Mayo Clinic distributed an email to staff that threatened to lock out workers for seven days if they staged the one-day strike.

The labor strife between Mayo and the union is occurring while the Mayo Clinic is facing widespread criticism in Albert Lea for moving many of the inpatient services at the Freeborn County facility to the Mayo Clinic hospital in Austin.

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