ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Nurses Association authorized a strike for better contracts that put “patients before profits.” The union said the strike vote passed overwhelmingly. The next negotiations are August 30. Then 15,000 nurses could walk out at targeted hospitals:
> Allina Health: Abbott Northwestern; Mercy; United; Unity.
> Children’s Hospitals: Minneapolis; St. Paul.
> Essentia: St. Mary’s, Duluth; St. Mary’s, Superior.
> HealthPartners: Methodist, St. Louis Park.
> M Health Fairview: Riverside, Southdale, St. Joseph’s, St. John’s.
> North Memorial: North Memorial, Robbinsdale.
> St Luke’s: St. Luke’s, Duluth.
Verbatim
Mary Turner, union president: “Hospital executives with million-dollar salaries have created a crisis of retention and care in our healthcare system, as more nurses are leaving the bedside, putting quality patient care at risk. ee are determined to take a stand at the bargaining table, and on the sidewalk if necessary, to put patients before profits in our hospitals.”
Verbatim
Allini Health: “Despite the on-going challenges being felt by Allina Health and throughout the nonprofit health care industry, we have offered an economic package that includes a wage increase of 11% over the three years of the contract, as well as additional compensation benefits. We have also demonstrated our commitment to many of the union’s priority issues, such as diversity, equity and inclusion, safety and security, and recruitment and retention.”