The Minnesota Nurse’s Association has now set a potential strike date as they work through contract negotiations with hospital administrators.
Just announced, the association said they would go on strike for three days effective Monday, September 12. The required 10-day notice to hospital employers was filed as of this Thursday morning.
The actual strike would take place 7:00 a.m. September 12 through 7:00 a.m. September 15.
15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities and in the Twin Ports area of Duluth-Superior voted to authorize the strike on August 15. The nurses from 16 hospitals in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports say executives have created a healthcare crisis of nurse retention and care in the healthcare system.
In Thursday's press conference, the nurses union said they vote to strike passed overwhelmingly, well over the two-thirds needed.
"Hospital executives with million-dollar salaries have created a crisis of retention and care in our health care system, as more nurses leave the bedside, putting quality patient care at risk," says Mary Turner, RN at North Memorial Hospital and and President of the Minnesota Nurses Association. "Nurses have one priority in our hospitals, to take care of our patients, and we are determined to fight for fair contracts so nurses can stay at the bedside to provide the quality care our patients deserve."
Allina Health executives, one of the 16 health systems negotiating with the Nurses Association, provided a statement Thursday following the strike announcement that says they are disappointed in the decision.
"We are disappointed the union is choosing to rush to a strike before exhausting all options, like engaging a mediator in negotiations which they have repeatedly rejected. The union’s premature decision to move forward with a work stoppage is not Allina Health’s desired outcome of our negotiations. We made progress this week at the negotiating table and a strike only serves to keep our valued nurses from working alongside our care team to deliver needed patient care.
Throughout negotiations, Allina Health has offered an economic package that includes a wage increase of 11% over the three years of the contract, additional compensation benefits, and a commitment to other priority issues, such as diversity, equity and inclusion, workplace safety and recruitment and retention. The union is still at an unsustainable 31% wage increase over three years, which is not feasible as we look long-term at our responsibility to all employees and our commitment to being a sustainable asset to the communities we serve.
We know agreement on important issues for both parties is possible, and it is our preference to get back to the bargaining table with the help of a mediator. However, a work stoppage does not change our commitment to providing safe and reliable care to our communities and we have plans in place to continue providing care throughout the duration of the work stoppage."
Nurses had been outspoken in their desire for more support from hospitals due to being "burned out" and have said administrators haven't been responsive to their demands.
Hospital administrators have said that they’re sensitive to the shortage of help and issues with burnout, but also have to weigh rising healthcare costs, and the costs passed on to patients.
This is a developing story. Stay with WCCO Radio for further updates.
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