Minnesota Nurses Association Vote to Authorize Strike

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Nurses Association has voted to authorize a strike, sending 15,000 nurses to the picket line.

Starting December 11th, the strike will affect Twin Cities, Twin Ports and Two Harbors hospitals.

The MNA says the strike is over unfair labor practices, the right to fair contracts, to “put patients before profits and to solve the crisis of care and working conditions in our hospitals.”

The two sides have been at the bargaining table for months, and MNA leaders say they have “made every effort to negotiate in good faith” and accuse hospital executives of colluding to keep wages down for nurses, direct dealing with nurse union members, and refusing to provide information necessary for the bargaining process.

“At the same time hospital CEOs tell us there is no money to retain staff and prioritize care, executives are taking million-dollar raises and pursuing corporate expansions that put community access to affordable care at risk,” said Chris Rubesch, RN at Essentia in Duluth and First Vice President of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “Nurses and patients need safe staffing and quality care in our hospitals, not more corporate healthcare policies. We are ready to fight and win fair contracts to hold hospital CEOs accountable to our communities.”

The MNA says Essentia Health CEO David Herman makes $2.69 million per year, a 38 to 1 ratio versus what RNs at the two Essentia Health hospitals in the Duluth/Superior area are making.

“Our hospitals are in crisis, and our CEOs have failed nurses and patients. They have failed to solve the crisis of patient care, and they have failed to solve the crisis of working conditions pushing nurses away from the bedside,” said Mary C. Turner, RN at North Memorial Hospital and President of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “Nurses are fighting to win contracts that will help nurses stay on the job to provide patients with the exceptional care they deserve. Hospital CEOs with million-dollar salaries can afford to put Patients Before Profits in our hospitals and to do right by Minnesota nurses.”

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