(MAPLE GROVE, Minn) – May 12, 2026 – Nearly 600 nurses at North Memorial Maple Grove Hospital have voted to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike following more than a year of negotiations. Nurses cite limited movement on key issues, inconsistent treatment related to protected union activity, and workplace restrictions affecting organizing.
In recent weeks, employer conduct during negotiations has interfered with fair bargaining and protected activity.
“Nurses want to remain at the bedside long-term to care for our patients—no nurse wants to strike,” said Margaret Sampson, RN and negotiating team member. “But nurses should not be expected to bear the burden of poor leadership decisions through stalled negotiations and unfair labor practices. Many nurses feel they are being left with few remaining options as concerns raised at the table continue to go unaddressed.”
The ULP strike vote comes as negotiations between nurses and hospital executives remain stalled and numerous concerns unresolved, affecting workforce stability and patient care.
The vote gives MNA’s elected nurse bargaining team the authority to call a strike should they determine that it is necessary to address the ongoing unfair labor practices and move negotiations forward.
Issues at the Bargaining Table
Maple Grove nurses have been in negotiations since May 2025. Nurses have raised concerns about staffing, retention, workplace stability, and protections in the case of a sale or merger. Recent hospital data show a 33% turnover among Maple Grove’s nurses in the last three years.
Nurses at Maple Grove are experiencing disparities in staffing improvements, workplace protections, and benefits compared to nurses at North Memorial Health’s Robbinsdale Hospital.
“Maple Grove nurses are committed to providing excellent patient care, but it becomes harder to retain experienced nurses when there are major differences in pay, benefits, and workplace protections across the system,” said Julie Noor, RN and negotiating team member. “Patients benefit from stable, experienced care teams, and that stability becomes harder to maintain when turnover continues to rise.”
What’s Next
MNA nurses remain committed to reaching a fair first contract and believe meaningful progress is possible if hospital leadership addresses ongoing unfair labor practices. Nurses entered their 30th bargaining session today and will continue to bargain in the coming days as the negotiating team evaluates the next steps.
No strike has been called at this time. If nurses move forward with a strike, they will provide the legally required 10-day notice to allow North Memorial to arrange the necessary coverage.
