Workers at Walker Methodist Health Center and their allies in the religious community won an important victory this week. They have waited nearly four years for their employer, the largest nursing home in the state, and the National Labor Relations Board to honor their decision to form a union with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This week, both the NLRB and Walker Methodist CEO Lynne Starkovich indicated that initial negotiations for a first contract with workers and their union will begin soon! Religious leaders have been walking with Walker Workers since the beginning of this campaign. To learn more about one congregation’s role in the campaign, read on, and stay tuned for what you can do to help WIN a strong contract for these workers!

Walker Community Church played a huge role in making this victory possible. Almost four years ago, the Rev. Seth Garwood, a WIN leader and board member, worked alongside members of the congregation to call for a union at Walker Methodist Health Care. Before his death, Rev. Garwood worked with his colleagues in the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to pass statewide resolutions calling for justice for Walker workers.

This fall, a new opportunity to win a union for Walker workers emerged and the Peace with Justice Committee at Walker, along with new pastor Rev. Walter Lockhart, got engaged immediately. In February, the congregation recruited almost 20 volunteers to go door to door in cold weather to ask neighbors in South Minneapolis to sign a petition calling on Walker Methodist Health Care to negotiate with workers. The committee also sought out a dialogue with Walker Methodist Health Care’s board members and eventually met directly with Walker Methodist Health Care CEO Lynne Starkovich.

Their strong advocacy for workers at Walker is an inspiration and a model of engagement. Keep coming back to the site to learn more about what your congregation can do to help Walker workers win a strong first contract.