For Immediate Release
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Contact: Barbara Brady
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
barbara.brady@mnnurses.org
(Bismarck, N.D.) – August 1, 2017 – Registered nurses at CHI St. Alexius Health are one step closer to having a union voice in their workplace to speak up for patient care and issues that affect staff.
On July 31, nurses filed for an election for nurses to vote to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association. RNs filed authorization cards signed by an overwhelming majority of nurses with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). This begins the formal process of unionizing.
“We believe the best way to advocate for our patients is by securing a place at the table where decisions about patients are made,” said St. Alexius RN Chettie Greer. “We are the professionals providing direct care to patients at the bedside every day. Who knows what patients need better than nurses?”
St. Alexius nurses have been working to organize as part of the Minnesota Nurses Association, which represents nearly 22,000 nurses in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Iowa.
“Nurses want to provide top quality care to our patients in a hospital that’s respected and an integral part of our community,” said Greer. “We believe the best way we can advocate for patients is by coming together and gaining the authority and rights to ensure our voices will be heard.”
The NLRB will review the authorization cards, set an election date, and conduct the election. If the nurses vote to join MNA, a bargaining unit at CHI St. Alexius will choose its leadership and begin creating a contract that includes staff and patient protections.
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