Protest picketing

While employees at the Mayo Methodist clinic in Rochester, Minnesota emphasized that they will not be striking out of concern for patients, they are still making their voices heard for higher pay. As reported by KTTC, a large group of Mayo Clinic employees — which ranged from doctors and nurses to frontline staff such as linen services workers — picketed outside of the Mayo Methodist Campus last Wednesday, Jan. 31 to voice their displeasure with their current pay structure. 

Mayo Clinic is regarded as one of the highest quality hospitals on the planet, but the employees who work to uphold that reputation argue that the compensation doesn’t match the standard that’s been set. Most notably, the employees, which are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), are pushing for a minimum $20 hourly pay rate. In the current structure, one SEIU member pointed out the frequency of union employees being lost to non union positions, which directly puts the quality of patient care at risk. 

At the other side of the table, the negotiators on behalf of Mayo Clinic had offered a pay increase of 3.5 percent; a number deemed insufficient by the union. Negotiations are ongoing, but the Clinic representatives reemphasized how they value the workers and remain optimistic that a deal will eventually be made. 

Negotiations are scheduled to continue today. For related news, Delaware Union custodians recently secured a new contract with improved pay and benefits. Read more on the new terms here.