PAME that represents the class unions of Greece, expresses its solidarity with the strike of thousands of nurses in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the USA who are demanding 27% wage increases.

Health workers both before and during the pandemic have been on the front line of protecting the lives and health of the people. But governments and business groups that treat health as a commodity on the one hand treat the sick as customers who must pay to get well and on the other exploit health workers with intensification and low wages.

In conditions of exploding costs of living, workers cannot live with increases that do not meet their real needs. The struggles and mobilizations that are developing in many countries around the world show that workers with organized and collective struggle and with the power of solidarity can win, can overturn anti-workers’ plans and impose their just demands.

PAME supports the just demands of the Minnesota and Wisconsin nurses and expresses solidarity with their strike.

#Greece #PeoplesStruggles #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #AllWorkersMilitantFrontOfGreecePAME

Saint Paul, MN – On Wednesday May 20, several hundred members of Minnesota Nurses Association, along with members of other unions and supporters, picketed in front of Allina’s United Hospital to demand PPE and the reinstatement of two nurses who have been fired so far for trying to work safely. The picket spread out on both sides of the street for three blocks or more, with participants standing in chalk circles on the sidewalk six feet apart and wearing masks.

After picketing for nearly two hours, the nurses and supporters marched from United Hospital to the Minnesota State Capitol where a rally was held for the following hour. The marchers used long ropes with marks every six feet so that people could hold onto their mark and stay safely six feet apart. The march stretched on for many blocks between the hospital and capitol.

Many nurses spoke movingly about the conditions healthcare workers are facing in hospitals during the pandemic and how the situation is worsened by Allina and other health systems’ failure to provide PPE and proper training and procedures to keep nurses safe. Many spoke of reusing and sharing N95 masks for many days or even weeks at a time. There were also many references to nurses being yelled at, warned, disciplined, and even fired for demanding to work safely and for following guidelines and implementing ways to stay safe while taking care of sick patients.

When asked about how things are going inside the hospital, one nurse who works at United stated that “Things are stressful and could be better.” She went on to say that they need more PPE since they are reusing protective gear during their shifts. They can’t understand why the administration is now making the guidelines of the use of PPE less restrictive. Before the pandemic, they weren’t allowed to wear the same mask from room to room but now they can. The administration also fired a worker for wearing hospital- issued scrubs even though they were previously allowed to wear them in some situations.

A union postal worker at the picket stated, “It is really important to be here because as postal workers we are going through the same things as the nurses, like lack of protection as essential workers. Postal workers stand in solidarity with the nurses because there is strength in numbers.”

Another group that had a large number of supporters joining the picket and march was the Coalition to Advance a People’s Agenda (CAPA), which is a coalition of labor union locals and organizations fighting to put the needs of the working class front and center in the response to the COVID 19 health crisis and the economic downturn.

On the coalitions’ Facebook page they state “working and oppressed people are facing the biggest crisis we’ve experienced in generations.” They go on to say “We cannot survive like this! Our basic needs, including our health, must come before the profits of big corporations. To get out of this crisis now and to make real lasting progress for our futures, we put forward these demands that put people before profits.”

The nurses appeared intent and prepared to continue the fight for PPE for nurses and other healthcare workers and to demand an end to retaliation against nurses who try to work safely.

#SaintPaulMN #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #CAPA

St. Paul, MN – As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across Minnesota, members of the Minnesota Nurses Association have announced that they will march on May 20 from Allina Health United Hospital to the Minnesota State Capitol to demand that management of United Hospital and other hospitals provide proper PPE, training, and safety, as well as transparency to keep nurses and other healthcare workers safe. They will also be delivering a petition with over 10,000 signatures to the Minnesota Department of Health demanding a Pandemic Bill of Rights to keep Minnesotans safe. Social distancing guidelines will be followed during the march.

The march is starting at Allina’s United Hospital for a good reason. Recently several RNs at United Hospital were given non-disciplinary counselings for wearing hospital-provided scrubs. Others have received disciplinary notices, and one has even been fired for the practice. Many nurses have been using the hospital scrubs instead of their own to keep their families safe and ensure they are not bringing COVID-19 home with them when they leave work. Several nurses have even had their pay illegally docked to make up for time that management decided to spend yelling inappropriately at nurses for asking for scrubs rather than using that time to provide healthcare and battle COVID-19. Charges have been filed against Allina Health System for this illegal and absurd behavior.

The nurse who was fired explained the situation on a recent social media post about the firing, saying, “Today I was fired from my job at United Hospital ER.” The termination as described was for wearing hospital issued scrubs and violating his duty to follow the directions of his leader. “I was wearing hospital scrubs, like many others are, so that I would not bring COVID 19 back home to my family. Although I am the first to be terminated for this, I’m not the only RN being punished for it. It’s part of six weeks’ worth of harassment we have all experienced as we attempt to make our workplace safer for staff and patients.”

The nurses recently opposed an executive order from Governor Tim Walz that allows for the resumption of elective procedures. They say they will oppose this practice until hospitals can show PPE resources have been obtained and healthcare workers' exposure is minimized.

Mary Turner is the Minnesota Nurses Association president and is an ICU RN at North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis. Here is what she had to say about the situation. “Minnesota is falling short. We are not protecting the very people who are caring for Minnesotans. Nurses and hospital workers need to be there as this pandemic spikes, and it's going to be all hands on deck. The effect of these policies is not just numbers, it's lives.”

MNA says they will file the appropriate “10 Day Notice” with Allina Health and United Hospital for an informational picket. This will not be a work stoppage, as no nurses will leave their jobs to participate in the march.

#SaintPaulMN #PeoplesStruggles #MinnesotaNursesAssociation

Minneapolis, MN – Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association held informational pickets, May 29, in their fight for a decent contact. Hundreds gathered at Fairview-Riverside and other hospitals to participate in huge picket lines, demanding that the issues of safety, benefits and wages are addressed. The existing contact will expire May 31.

If nurses and hospitals come to an agreement, that offer will have to be ratified by MNA members in a special vote. If that vote fails after the contract expires, nurses may elect to begin a strike across one or more metro hospital facilities.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #MinnesotaNursesAssociation

Minneapolis, MN – Members and supporters of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) picketed with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis on Sept. 25. The MNA went on strike at Allina hospitals on Labor Day.

WAMM member and former director Nikki LaSorella expressed the significance of the nurses’ strike, “This is about economic justice and we need to stand up with all people who are being treated unfairly because it impacts our economy.”

Colleen McGlip, also a WAMM member, participated in the picket, “I’m out here today because I care. These nurses are good strong fighters!” Doug McGlip, her husband, a former Teamster Local 1145 member, explained that solidarity is what motivated him to come out, “People have to pull together. An injury to one is an injury to all.”

This is the third WAMM picket in solidarity with MNA strikers. WAMM members have also been participating in the strike support committee Workers United for Nurses. WAMM plans to continue to support the nurses’ union throughout their strike.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #strike #WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness #WAMM #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #MNA #Strikes

Minneapolis, MN – More than 400 rank-and-file members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) joined the picket lines of the nurses on strike at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Friday, Sept. 23. They held a solidarity rally and walked the picket lines together with striking nurses, undeterred by the rain. Eight buses and many cars full of AFSCME members went together from the AFSCME Council 5 convention in Bloomington, which brought together AFSCME members from throughout Minnesota.

Almost 5000 nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) have been on strike since early September against Allina. Before the solidarity picketing on Friday, MNA President Mary Turner spoke to the delegates at the AFSCME convention, where she was received with warm solidarity and standing ovations for the nurses’ bold determination to strike against Allina’s greedy demands that nurses accept significant health insurance cuts.

AFSCME Executive Director Eliot Seide announced that AFSCME had donated $10,000 to the nurses’ strike hardship fund and would continue to make additional significant donations if the nurses are forced to continue their strike. Several AFSCME local leaders also announced that their locals would make donations to the nurses’ strike fund so the nurses can stay on strike as long as it takes to win.

Later that evening, federal mediators called Allina management and the Minnesota Nurses Association back to the bargaining table this coming Tuesday, Sept 27.

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #AFSCMECouncil5 #MNA #Strikes

Minneapolis, MN – Members of Women Against Military Madness picketed with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Sept. 11. The MNA went on strike at Allina hospitals on Labor Day.

Mary Beaudoin, a member of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), told Fight Back!, “WAMM members stand in solidarity with Allina nurses in their struggle to provide good health care for their patients and a fair labor contract needed to sustain it.”

WAMM plans to picket again on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. and encourages others in the anti-war movement to join them.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes

Minneapolis, MN – Picket lines at Allina hospitals remain strong as the first week of the strike by more than 4000 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association draws to a close, Sept 11. The open-ended unfair labor practices strike began Labor Day, and comes in response to an attempt by Allina to extract major concessions in nurses’ heath care.

A major fundraiser is being planned for Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. at the CWA Hall, 3521 E Lake Street in Minneapolis to raise money for the strike fund.

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes

Minneapolis, MN – Members of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee picketed with the Minnesota Nurses Association at Abbot Northwestern Hospital during rush hour, Sept. 8. The nurses went out on strike on Labor Day.

Jennie Eisert, a Colombian-born activist with the Anti-War Committee, picketed and said, “I am really glad I was here today to stand in solidarity with the nurses. In May I met with workers with SINTRAMIENERGETICA in Colombia. These coal miners have been on strike for three years. Trade unionists in Colombia are threatened by right-wing death squads for organizing. It is important to me and to the Anti-War Committee to support the right to organize both at home and abroad.”

The nurses’ strike in ongoing. A fundraiser is being planned for Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. at the CWA Hall, 3521 E Lake Street in Minneapolis to raise money for the strike fund.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes

Minneapolis, MN – Hundreds of Minnesota Nurses Association members, along with their supporters, rallied in Stewart Park Aug. 31 to show support for Allina Health nurses who are set to go on an open-ended Unfair Labor Practice strike on Labor Day. A broad spectrum of labor and community groups, including teachers, AFSCME, and Teamsters attended the rally.

MNA filed the required ten-day strike notice on the five affected Allina Health hospitals and Allina headquarters early on Aug. 26. Picketing will take place at Abbott Northwestern, Allina Commons, Mercy, Phillips Eye Institute, United, and Unity hospitals.

#MinneapolisMN #MinnesotaNursesAssociation

“Nurses sent a message to Allina again last week with an overwhelming vote to reject the employer’s latest offer and authorize a strike,” said MNA Executive Director Rose Roach. “Nurses are exercising the voice they have, and as of 6 a.m. this morning, nurses filed a 10-day intent to strike notice with Allina Health.”

Nurses announced the filing at a press conference at the AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair. They were joined by leaders of other unions who also announced they were filing notices of intent to strike Allina Health.

“I’m here to say the 86,000 members of Education Minnesota are standing behind Minnesota’s nurses,” said Denise Specht, Education Minnesota president. “We will walk your picket line for as long as it takes.”

The latest round of negotiations between nurses and Allina Health ended on Tuesday with no agreement and no responses by hospital negotiators on nurses’ proposals. Allina negotiators continue to say that they will not offer proposals or discuss issues of staffing and workplace safety until nurses agree to end all of their health insurance plans.

Mediators with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service met with both sides during the day to discuss the potential for settlement on a new three-year contract. Nurses have been in talks with Allina Health since February. Hospital negotiators once again did not offer new proposals or address outstanding nurse proposals without demanding concessions on nurses’ health insurance plans.

Nurses were also joined at the press conference by officials with AFSCME Council 5 and SEIU-Healthcare. AFSCME also presented MNA with a $10,000 check for the nurses’ strike fund.

“Today, [Allina’s] telling us we don’t need staffing or training on how to protect ourselves from violence in the hospital,” said Bernadine Engeldorf, United Hospital nurse and negotiating team member. “Tomorrow, they’ll be telling us we don’t need a pension.”

Nurses will begin planning the logistics for an Unfair Labor Practice strike. Picketing will take place around Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, Phillips Eye Institute, United, and Unity hospitals as well as Allina’s headquarters.

“This is an open-ended strike,” Roach said. “These nurses have never felt more disrespected and more devalued by this employer in their entire careers. They are mad.”

#SaintPaulMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes

Minneapolis, MN – Nurses who are part of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) wrapped up a powerful seven-day strike on Sunday, June 26.

Less than 10% of the nurses at the five Allina Hospitals where MNA was striking went to work last week. In the lead-up to the strike, Allina boasted that they had found “hundreds” of scab nurses to work during the strike but around 4500 nurses walked off the job and stayed out, leaving the Allina hospitals essentially shut down.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU Healthcare MN), which repents many job classes in these same hospitals, held a seven-day support picket alongside the MNA strikers during their off-work hours. SEIU members on the picket line reported that the hospitals were mostly shut down with only a bare minimum of essential services continuing to operate. New patients were being rerouted to other hospitals outside the Allina system and surgeries and other procedures were being cancelled and rescheduled. One SEIU member on the picket line said “It's like a ghost town in there. The whole third floor and most of the nursing stations in the hospital are shut down.”

In conversations with MNA nurses on the picket line and in the camps set up at supporters’ houses and churches nearby there was a common thread: The nurses understand that this is not the end. They are ready to do whatever they have to and will not break or bend. By staying out for seven days, instead of only one day as they had done in the past, the nurses were able to send a clear message to Allina that they can go out on strike and they can stay out on strike. The same thing was evident by the determination and resolve of the nurses on the picket lines.

Allina clearly lost tens of millions of dollars last week during the strike. This is not just about one contract though. For Allina this is an attempt to bust one of the biggest unions in their hospitals so that they can have unlimited power over the workplace and treat workers as poorly as they want. The nurses have sent Allina a strong message that they will never back down and will not be divided by Allina's disgusting behavior. In fact they will unite even more going forward in the face of these attacks.

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes #AllinaHospitals

Minneapolis, MN – Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) were on picket lines in force today, June, 20, as more than 4800 nurses began the second day of their seven-day unfair labor practices strike at five Allina Hospitals. A key issue is Allina’s demand that nurses take a big hit on health care benefits.

Meredith Aby-Keirstead, a leader of the Anti-War Committee, was one of the many progressives who joined today’s picketing of Abbott Northwestern Hospital. “The nurses are standing up against injustice, and it is important that everyone who can get out to the picket lines and show their support,” said Aby-Keirstead.

You can join the picket line from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day starting from now through Saturday, June 26 at Unity Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Abbott Northwestern, United Hospital, and Phillips Eye Institute.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #nurses #strikes

Minneapolis, MN – 4800 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) from five Allina Hospitals in the Twin Cities Metro Area walked off the job today, June 19 , beginning a seven-day strike. Allina management is insisting that the nurses settle for a new contract that would change their health care plan to the same ‘corporate plan’ that non-contract employees have. This would dramatically increase their out of pocket expenses to receive the same health care that the nurses provide for the community at Allina Hospitals every day.

After four months of failed talks, the nurses decided enough was enough and decided they had no choice but to call a strike to show Allina that they won't back down until they win the contract they deserve.

Members of AFSCME, the Teamsters, SEIU and many more unions were seen on the picket lines supporting the nurses. SEIU Healthcare MN filed a ten-day notice to picket and SEIU members from Allina hospitals will be picketing in solidarity with the MNA nurses.

You can join the picket line from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day starting on Sunday, June 19 through Saturday, June 26 at Unity Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Abbott Northwestern, United Hospital, and Phillips Eye Institute.

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes #AllinaHospitals #AbbottNorthwesternHospital

Minneapolis, MN – Nearly 5000 nurses, members of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), went on strike this morning, June 19, at Twin Cites metro area Allina hospitals. At issue is an attempt by Allina to take away the nurses’ health care plan. The strike will last seven days. Workers from a spectrum of the Twin Cities labor movement are joining nurses on the picket lines.

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes

“Nurses know what’s at stake. Nurses are prepared. We have to be advocates for our practice, our patients and for ourselves and our family,” said Angela Becchetti, a registered nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

According to a statement from the MNA, “Nurses at all four hospitals voted by overwhelming majority to reject the contract offer and tell Allina to return to the bargaining table.”

At issues is Allina’s proposal attacking the nurses’ heath care benefits.

“Allina's negotiators never made the case why they need to cut nurses' health plans and ask nurses to pick up $10 million in costs. They’ve said it’s not about money. They said it’s about lowering nurses’ benefits to the low levels that their other employees suffer with,” Becchetti said.

The MNA must give the employer a ten-day notice before a strike.

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #Strikes #AllinaHealth

Minneapolis, MN – Over 500 registered nurses from Allina Hospitals across Minnesota joined together and picketed outside of Allina Corporate Headquarters on Chicago Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis, May 19. The nurses have been in a fight with Allina Health, with whom they are bargaining for a new contract.

Allina is the most profitable health care system in the Twin Cities metro area, yet they are insisting on changing the RN’s health care plan from one that provides good affordable health care to the same one they offer their non-union employees. This would leave many of them paying over $520 a month for the health insurance they need just to go to the very same hospitals that they work at and provide care at every day.

Additionally, the nurses are fighting for a strong voice in staffing and safety decisions that would ensure that Allina hospitals are a good place for patients to get care in the communities they live in, and that Allina hospitals would be a safe place to work free from injuries and other dangers associated with the kind of short staffing that has been an issue in the past.

Allina has a clear choice. They can continue to go down this destructive path and allow their greed to hurt their employees and patients, or they can continue to offer these health care workers the health care plans they deserve and agree to be a partner in ensuring safe staffing levels by letting the RNs have a voice in staffing decisions.

The choice is Allina’s to make but one thing is clear, this is just the beginning. The May 19 show of force was just a small taste of what is to come and the nurses will not stop until they win the contract they deserve and make Allina hospitals safe for patients and for workers.

#MinneapolisMN #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #AllinaHospitals

St. Paul, MN – Over 1000 union members from all sections of the labor movement packed the Minnesota capitol, March 12, as right-wing legislators jammed a so-called ‘Right to Work’ constitutional amendment through a Senate committee. The proposed amendment needs to pass the both houses of the legislature for it to be placed on the ballot this fall.

“This amendment is an attack on workers and unions,” said Cherrene Horazuk, chief steward of AFSCME Local 3800, “it would kill our power at the bargaining table.”

Steve Fadness, a Duluth pipe fitter stated, “We have to stop this legislation because we won't be able to get back what we lose if it passes.”

Tom Fox, a retired member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, commented, “If this anti-worker amendment passes it will pit worker against worker and state against state and will domino to other states.”

A member of Minnesota Nurses Association, Susan Kreitz said, “Without a union workers will be mistreated and patient care would decline. We want Minnesota to stay a state with a vibrant union movement.”

The proposed amendment was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee to a standing room only crowd, while outside the hearing room union members packed the hallways chanting “Hey hey! Ho ho! Union busting has got to go!” “Right to work – bad deal! Right to work – unsafe!” and, hearkening back to the 2011 Madison union mobilizations, “Kill the bill!”

For over three hours, the power of the unions’ force could be heard and felt throughout the capitol and inside the hearing room. Tom Clark, Treasurer of Firefighters Local 82 and several of his fellow union members were outside the hearing. “Right to work is bad for unions and all of Minnesota. If this passes through committee today we must start a huge education campaign, letting everyone know that over time, ‘Right to Work’ will erode safety, bargaining power and workers rights.”

Diane Ersbo of Teamsters local 638 said, “I am here because I value my union job. Because I have a son with a disability, decent health care is really important. I make good wages; I’m paid equally on the shop floor compared to my male counterparts; I’m treated with respect. Right to work would end all of that. It’s important that we not wait until it gets to the ballot because there is too much at stake. Now is the time to do everything you can to stand up against this amendment.”

The amendment passed the committee 7-6, with one Republican voting against it. As politicians left the hearing room, they had to go through a gauntlet of people chanting “Shame! Shame!” and “We will return.” Republican Senators who voted for the amendment hurriedly walk past protesters and into an elevator, escorted by an entourage of police.

From here, the will move to the Rules and Administration Committee before going to the full Senate.

Martin Goff from UNITE HERE Local 17 commented, “This amendment is a culmination of attacks on the social safety net and unions, while also deregulating businesses, allowing them to reap unprecedented profits on the backs of workers.”

#StPaulMN #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #AFSCMELocal3800 #rightToWork #NationalAssociationOfLetterCarriers #UNITEHERELocal17 #TeamstersLocal638

Support the Minnesota Nurses!

Here in Minnesota, 12,000 nurses in six Twin Cities hospital systems have stood up to say “enough is enough” and have decided to go on strike. All workers and everyone who supports justice should do everything we can to help the nurses win this fight. The nurses need our solidarity — their victory will be a victory for all workers. Join the picket lines, come to the rallies, put up a yard sign, write a letter to the editor, and talk to your coworkers and neighbors.

What Are the Nurses Fighting For?

The hospital corporations that the workers are striking against — which made nearly $700 million in profits during 2009 — are trying to increase staffing ratios to make each nurse take care of more patients at a time. The nurses are fighting for lower staffing ratios, so that they doesn’t have to take care of too many patients at one time. National studies prove time and again that lower nurse-to-patient ratios are critical when it comes to patient safety and quality of care.

The nurses are also fighting to defend their pensions, so they can retire in dignity after a lifetime of caring for others. Twin Cities hospitals are proposing to slash the nurses' pension fund by one third, moving it back to 1968 economic levels.

Why are the hospital executives so bent on risking patient safety by increasing nurse staffing ratios, and why do they want to cut the nurses’ pensions? Do they think that will result in better care for patients and a better life for nurses? Obviously not.

The hospital corporation executives only care about one thing — making money. They want to make more and more money for themselves, even if it means worse care for patients and taking away nurses’ livelihoods. It’s unconscionable — making money at the expense of sick people and the nurses that care for them.

But the economy is in crisis. And when capitalism goes into crisis, all that matters to the rich is preserving and increasing their bottom line. The way they do that is to try to make the workers pay through layoffs, pay cuts, or making workers do more work in less time. One way or another, the capitalists always try to squeeze the workers harder when capitalism is in crisis. The only way to stop this is for workers to fight back.

Stand Up, Fight Back!

The nurses are standing up and fighting back against their bosses’ greed. They are declaring that the safety of their patients, and their ability to retire securely after a lifetime of serving the needs of others, is more important than profits. They are right, and everyone who supports justice should stand with them.

Most workers live paycheck to paycheck, so going on strike and going without pay indefinitely to take a stand is a big deal. In fact its heroic. By standing up together and going on strike, the nurses are setting an example for all workers. Around the country, and even around the world people are watching the nurses strike, seeing the power that workers have, and gaining inspiration to fight back. The fight of the nurses in the Minnesota Nurses Association is an example to all workers. Stand with the nurses. Solidarity forever!

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #MNA #nurses

According to a statement from the MNA: “Despite MNA nurses significantly modifying their staffing and wage proposals, there was little progress made in today’s negotiations with the Twin Cities Hospitals.”

The statement continued: “Many of the employers’ concessions and take backs remain on the table. Despite the hospitals’ claim in a press statement (that was released as bargaining was still going on) that the proposed decrease in pension contributions was off the table, the fact is that it is contingent on a number of things: MNA nurses must accept all the take backs and concessions the hospitals are proposing, none of which address patient safety or staffing issues. The MNA membership must approve a contract with these concessions. The nurses must pull their 10-day strike notice. Only if all those things happen will the employers make a ‘recommendation’ to their pension bargaining team to keep the nurses’ pension as is.”

“The MNA bargaining teams felt that this proposal was unacceptable and rejected it but requested a return to the table on Wednesday. In fact, our nurses remain committed to meeting anytime, anywhere before July 6 in hopes we can reach a contract agreement and avoid a strike.”

Minnesota nurses walked off their jobs for a one-day strike on June 10. 12,000 nurses are poised to strike at 7:00 a.m. on July 6, in the largest nursing strike in the history of the United States.

#MinneapolisMN #strike #MinnesotaNursesAssociation #MNA #nurses