FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org
(Duluth, MN) – June 30, 2025 – For the first time in Minnesota history, Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) have announced an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. Today, over 400 APPs at 69 facilities in Essentia Health’s East Market delivered formal notice of a ULP strike set to begin July 10. The APPs include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. The APPs are represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, but Essentia has refused to recognize their union for nearly a year, instead responding with unlawful retaliation, intimidation, and sweeping changes to assignments—all violations of federal labor law.
This ULP strike is not about politics or economics. It is about following labor law and the right to fairly bargain. APPs have made every effort to come to the table for nearly a year. Despite being certified by the National Labor Relations Board and being told that negotiations may begin, Essentia has responded with silence and illegal conduct.
“We’ve asked simple, professional questions about our rights, our roles, and the future of our work,” said Neissa Boehm, an NP from Virginia. “Essentia refused to meet even once.”
The result: APPs, who are essential frontline providers for thousands of Minnesotans, especially in rural and high-volume settings, are taking unprecedented action to defend their patients and their profession.
Key concerns include unsustainable staffing levels, corporate interference in clinical decisions, and restrictive non-compete clauses that limit rural care access. These issues don’t just affect providers; they affect patients. Without APPs, many clinics would be forced to close or cut hours, increasing delays and harming community health.
In 2024, nearly 400 APPs across Essentia voted overwhelmingly to unionize. The National Labor Relations Board certified that election. Essentia’s refusal to bargain violates federal labor law and undermines the healthcare system’s most trusted professionals.
APPs do not want to strike. The July 10 walkout is a last resort. They hope Essentia Health will reverse course and meet with them before then to fairly talk about proposals.
“APPs are holding this system together and are essential in making sure patients in rural communities still have access to timely, quality care,” said Ann Vreeland, a Nurse Practitioner from Aurora. “So, if Essentia wants to take credit for strong outcomes, they need to start by recognizing the people who actually deliver that care.”
Providers and nurses across Essentia Health, and the entire state, stand united. Staffing is a patient safety issue, and it’s time administrators started listening to the people who patients trust.
In all, the Advanced Practice Providers at 69 locations were joined by Registered Nurses at 16 hospitals across seven hospital systems and others at six of Essentia’s clinic, hospice and surgery facilities in authorizing a strike, In total, four hospitals and six Essentia clinics, hospice and surgery facilities will be striking on July 8 with APPs joining them on July 10. The strike authorization is still in effect for the facilities in the metro, although they have not yet called a strike.
What’s next?
Advanced Practice Providers and nurses at striking hospitals and clinics issued a 10-day notice, allowing time for facilities to arrange patient care coverage. The goal remains to reach an agreement to avoid disruptions. But APPs are prepared to launch their ULP Strike and to protest’ bad faith bargaining and other ULPs, and demand facilities begin meeting in good faith so Providers can address issues.