A union representing food service workers at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has offered a "major compromise" to the health system. The compromise would resolve a labor fight sparked by Mayo's decision to switch food service vendors, reports the Post-Bulletin.
Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota, which represents 700 food service workers across southern Minnesota, including 350 in Rochester, offered the three-pronged plan Monday at the first of four bargaining sessions, according to the article.
As part of the plan, the union wants Mayo to "choose any management team or food service program to create menus and organize the dietary department" and ensure all dietary workers remain Mayo employees, the article states.
SEIU, for its part, is agreeing to pay up to $25,000 to train union members on the new program and menus, according to the Post-Bulletin.
"We believe strongly that this plan would work well, which is why we are offering $25,000 to help ease the transition for Mayo and the food service workers in they agree to this plan," SEIU President Jamie Gulley said via statement, according to the article. "Unless they have other motives for their proposed outsourcing, this seems like a perfect option to solve a situation that has brought so much controversy to Mayo and the whole Rochester community."
In response, Mayo expressed appreciation for the union's offer.
"We appreciate that SEIU is now willing to meet with us regarding our plans for improving the food service experience for our patients, their families and staff," Lilli Weivoda, operations administrator for food and nutrition services, said in a statement to the Post-Bulletin. "In designing this plan, we've worked hard to ensure that employee well-being is preserved throughout the transition. SEIU's offer does not address the reasons for Mayo Clinic needing to make this transition — to improve the food service experience for our patients. Beyond that, we believe it would be unproductive to engage in negotiations through the media."
The labor fight stems from Mayo's decision to switch from Sodexo to Morrison Healthcare for food and nutrition services. SEIU has alleged Mayo failed to provide basic information about how, why and when it made the decision. Food service workers have also presented Mayo with a petition, asking the system to reconsider the outsourcing decision, according to a KIMT report.
Additionally, the union filed a grievance alleging Mayo's decision to switch food service vendors was "primarily influenced" by Carol Gorman, Mayo's food services administrator.
"The union believes Carol Gorman has a conflict of interest due to a long standing personal relationship with a Morrison executive," SEIU contends, citing Mayo's conflict of interest policy from its employee handbook.
Mayo, however, has consistently said the change is about "creating efficiency and consistency, and ensuring the highest quality possible for the food and nutrition services throughout Mayo Clinic."
The next bargaining session is slated to take place Aug. 30. In the meantime, a picket is scheduled Wednesday outside Saint Marys Hospital campus in Rochester to protest Mayo's subcontracting plans. According to the Post-Bulletin, SEIU estimates the subcontracting plans will reduce compensation for union employees by about $1,000 per month.
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