Nurses endorse St. Paul Mayoral and Minnesota State House candidates who stand with patients and nurses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

Erin Moriarty
651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul, MN) – August 21, 2025 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced the endorsement of two candidates who have demonstrated leadership in supporting safe hospital staffing levels, worker rights, and patient care. These candidates are recognized for their commitment to solving issues that impact both nurses and patients.

To be endorsed by nurses, candidates must demonstrate commitment to MNA priorities, including ensuring safe staffing, addressing nurse retention, holding hospital executives accountable, standing up to the corporatization of healthcare, advocating for lower healthcare costs and supporting the rights of all workers seeking dignity and respect in the workplace.

MNA Endorsed Candidates

  • XP Lee, House District 34B
  • Melvin Carter, Mayor of St. Paul

Nurses Care, Nurses Vote

MNA endorsements follow screening sessions where nurses pressed candidates for their commitment to key issues for nurses and patients. Recommendations for endorsement were approved by the MNA Political Committee and Board of Directors, both comprised of elected nurse members.

Here’s what nurses have to say about MNA’s endorsed candidates:

  • “It’s clear that XP Lee will be a champion for nurses, the work of nurses, and our nurse issues.” said Kathleen Malecki, RN, and 34B resident.
  • “Melvin Carter takes action steps on important issues, collaborates with affected individuals on problem solving, and shows up to our picket lines,” said Gladys Igbo, RN, and St. Paul resident.

MNA nurses will encourage fellow nurses and the public to elect endorsed candidates in 2025 through phone- and text-banking, door-knocking, digital advertisements, and more.

More information on the MNA endorsement process and on endorsed candidates can be found at nursescarenursesvote.com.

On:
In: Elections, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

Erin Moriarty
651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul, MN) – August 21, 2025 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced the endorsement of two candidates who have demonstrated leadership in supporting safe hospital staffing levels, worker rights, and patient care. These candidates are recognized for their commitment to solving issues that impact both nurses and patients.

To be endorsed by nurses, candidates must demonstrate commitment to MNA priorities, including ensuring safe staffing, addressing nurse retention, holding hospital executives accountable, standing up to the corporatization of healthcare, advocating for lower healthcare costs and supporting the rights of all workers seeking dignity and respect in the workplace.
… Read more about: Nurses endorse St. Paul Mayoral and Minnesota State House candidates who stand with patients and nurses  »

On:
In: Duluth, Essentia, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham

651-269-1418

shannon.cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

(Duluth, MN) – August 20, 2025 – The following is a statement released by Minnesota Nurses Association President Chris Rubesch, RN: 

Nurses and healthcare workers at Essentia Health deserve a safe workplace where they can care for patients without fear of intimidation or retaliation. During MNA’s strike in July, clinic nurses and APPs on the picket line received threats from their direct supervisor at Essentia’s Superior and 3rd Street Urgent Care Clinics. He threatened to run them over with his car and shoot them with a paintball gun while they exercised their legal right to strike.
… Read more about: Statement from MNA President on Essentia supervisor’s threats to workers  »

On:
In: Advanced Practice Providers, Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Nurses, Nurses Strike, Nursing, Press Releases, ULP Strike, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org 

 

Duluth, MN – July 25, 2025 – On Tuesday, clinic nurses, surgery center nurses, healthcare workers at Solvay Hospice House, and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) concluded a powerful strike across Essentia Health facilities that involved nearly 700 frontline workers. The two-week strike by nurses and healthcare workers and 13-day strike by APPs brought statewide attention to Essentia’s unfair labor practices, including unlawful intimidation, surveillance, and clear attempts to bust the union. 

Yet, even after the strike’s end, Essentia is continuing to keep on travel nurses, when former striking healthcare workers are available and want to return to work. 
… Read more about: Negotiations move forward as Essentia delays return of striking workers  »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Essentia, Home, Nurses, Press Releases, ULP Strike

Contact: Shannon Cunningham

651-269-1418

Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Duluth, MN) – July 22, 2025 – Hundreds of frontline caregivers at Essentia Health will return to work following a powerful Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. The group includes over 300 clinic nurses and 400 Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) who walked off the job to expose Essentia executives’ refusal to negotiate in good faith and their numerous ULPs, such as threats of violence against striking workers and interference in union activities. The two-week first contract ULP strike of clinic nurses and healthcare workers will end Wednesday morning.
… Read more about: Essentia Health clinic workers and Advanced Practice Providers end historic ULP strike  »

On:
In: Bargaining, Duluth Bargaining, Home, Press Releases, ULP Strike

(St. Paul, MN) – July 3, 2025 – After nearly four months of contentious bargaining with hospital executives while continuing to provide high-quality care and escalating pressure at the bedsides, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) in the Twin Cities Metro region have reached a tentative agreement with their hospital employers, have resolved the Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) as part of the settlement, and successfully avoided a ULP strike. 

In a moment when unions across the country are under attack and organizing is being met with hostility from corporate and political leaders alike, MNA nurses stood strong. They boldly organized in defense of their contract, their profession, and their patients—fighting off a litany of concessions even under immense pressure. 
… Read more about: BREAKING: Twin Cities nurses avert strike, reach deal; Duluth prepares for action    »

On:
In: Aspirus, Bargaining, Duluth, Essentia, Home, Nurses Strike, Press Releases, ULP Strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org 

(St. Paul) – June 27, 2025 –Nurses and other healthcare workers at multiple Duluth and Superior healthcare facilities will be the first to begin a ULP Strike to demand their hospitals engage in Fair Negotiations, stop committing unfair labor practices, and to work with nurses to advocate for patients.

Hospital acute care nurses at Essentia Health’s St. Mary’s Duluth Hospital, Miller-Dwan Hospital and St. Mary’s- Superior Hospital, and Aspirus Health St. Luke’s Hospital will be beginning their ULP Strike to demand their hospitals engage in Fair Negotiations, stop committing unfair labor practices, and to work with nurses to advocate for patients on Tuesday, July 8 at 7:00 a.m.
… Read more about: BREAKING: Nurses announce ULP strike to demand fair bargaining so nurses can protect patient care and stand for safe staffing  »

On:
In: Bargaining, Home, Hospitals, Metro Bargaining, Nurse Staffing, Press Releases, ULP Strike Vote, Uncategorized

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
(c) 651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

Contact:  Erin Moriarty
(c) 651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

WHEN:

Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Duluth – 8:00 a.m.
Metro – 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: 

Duluth- 8:00 a.m.
Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Road
Duluth, MN

Metro- 9:00 a.m.
Minnesota Nurses Association Office, 345 Randolph Ave, Suite 200
St. Paul, MN

WHO: Nurses and Advanced Practice Providers with the Minnesota Nurses Association
WHAT: An opportunity to hear from nurses and advanced practice providers about the status of bargaining and the results of MNA’s Unfair Labor Practice strike authorization vote.
… Read more about: Nurses to hold press conference with ULP strike vote authorization results  »

On:
In: Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Home, Hospitals, Nurses, Press Releases, St. Lukes, Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

(Duluth, MN) – June 18, 2025 – In the final scheduled bargaining session before their contract expires, nurses at Aspirus St. Luke’s were met not with compromise, but with cuts. Instead of working toward solutions, hospital executives introduced an economic proposal loaded with rollbacks: limiting sick time, vacation, dental, and health coverage for two-thirds of acute care nurses. This also comes after weeks of Aspirus St. Luke’s criticizing nurses for failing to present their full economic proposal, despite not offering one of their own until now.
… Read more about: Aspirus Walks Away from Solutions, Pushes Concessions Instead of Care  »

On:
In: Home, Press Releases

MNA President Chris Rubesch, RN, released a statement this morning on behalf of the entirety of the Minnesota Nurses Association:

We are shocked and outraged by the targeted shootings that killed Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and injured Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Nurses have partnered with both dedicated legislators for years to pass meaningful legislation that helps patients and workers and know that both served with unparallelled passion and dedication to their communities. Violence and fear do not belong in our democracy and no public servant should fear for their safety while serving their communities.  Our thoughts are with them and their families.  
… Read more about: MNA Statement on Recent Attacks on Minnesota State Legislators  »

On:
In: Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Shannon Cunningham

651-269-1418

Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

(Duluth, MN) – June 12, 2025 – Today, Minnesota nurses requested for a mediator to step in and help resolve contract negotiations with Essentia Health, following months of stonewalling and ongoing unfair labor practices that threaten patient safety. This rare step is to bring integrity back to the bargaining table. Nurses have also requested that Essentia withdraw all anti-union proposals put forth so far.

MNA’s request, delivered during the June 12 bargaining session today, reflects the union’s continued effort to reach a fair contract that prioritizes safe staffing levels and patient care.
… Read more about: MNA nurses request mediator as Essentia escalates anti-union tactics  »