Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association joined by family, friends and community supporters held an informational picket today outside Aspirus Lake View Hospital to highlight critical workforce issues at the core of their ongoing contract negotiations. Nurses have been bargaining since late September with the hospital to preserve their existing insurance, close the wage gap with area hospitals, and secure retirement benefits, despite hospital leadership’s reluctance to address these issues in a meaningful way.
“What we’re asking for focuses on workforce stability — maintaining affordable insurance options, protecting retirement benefits, and restoring competitiveness by meaningfully addressing the wage gap with nearby employers,” said Jerri Swardstrom, RN. “We know safe staffing depends on retaining and recruiting experienced nurses who choose to stay in this community.”
Patients in Two Harbors deserve consistent access to skilled caregivers in northern Minnesota, where healthcare options are limited and often require extra travel.
High turnover destabilizes staffing, increases costs and makes retention more difficult—directly impacting patient care.
“We love caring for this community and want to ensure Lake View continues to be a place where nurses choose to stay, and patients feel confident in their care,” said Renee Lasky, RN. “Turnover remains a serious concern, eroding morale and driving up costs. Investing in retention is essential for safe and consistent care.”
Today’s informational picket was not a work stoppage. The contract for Aspirus Lake View nurses expired on September 30, 2025. Negotiations remain ongoing, and nurses will continue fighting for a fair contract that protects caregivers, patients, and the community.
