Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Minneapolis, MN–Healthcare workers at Villa at Osseo voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first union contracts as United Food & Commercial Workers Local 663 members this December.
Both full and part-time workers voted on December 23, which consists of licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), trained medication aides (TMAs), NARs, dietary aides, and recreational services assistants. Healthcare Services workers voted on December 29.
Highlights of the new two year contracts include guaranteed wage increases and premiums, improvements to working conditions, and workplace rights – including Union representation, a grievance procedure, and discipline only for just cause.
Veronica Funnebo, an LPN, was happy about the raises, “My pay increase will help me to be able to save extra after paying my bills.”
Earlier this year, Villa at Osseo management signed a voluntary recognition agreement with UFCW Local 663 on August 20, 2020 that assigned UFCW Local 663 as the exclusive representative of employees of the worker units. Union members and management began the process of good-faith collective bargaining for the first contracts in the fall.
“We chose to form a union because we want a better quality of life, respect at the workplace, and a voice at work. Now my coworkers and I have that,” said David Arradondo, Dietary Aide.
“Our union family welcomes our newest members at Villa at Osseo. These workers join the ranks of our union–thousands of essential workers strong–knowing that we have each others’ backs. Our union has a place for anyone that wants to build a better life by reaching together for higher wages, benefits and more workplace protections,” said Matthew Utecht, president of UFCW Local 663.
This victory follows major gains for UFCW Local 663’s members as they ratified grocery contracts that guarantee $15 an hour minimum starting wage at Seward Community Co-op and Linden Hills Co-op.
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UFCW Local 663 represents more than 13,200 hard-working retail, meat packing and processing, food preparation and manufacturing, healthcare, and other workers in Minnesota and Iowa. We strive to improve the lives of our members and of all working families by fighting for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. UFCW Local 663 is part of the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
