Congressman Keith Ellison
For Immediate Release Contact: Micah Clemens
Thursday, June 10, 2010 202.225.4755
Micah.Clemens@mail.house.gov
Congressman Ellison Stands in Solidarity with Minnesota Nurses
Supports Legislation to Increase Nurse Staffing Levels
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) announced his support for the 12,000 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association who began striking at 7 a.m. this morning. Registered nurses from 14 Twin Cities hospitals are walking the picket lines to demand safe nurse staffing levels, which are critical to improve patient safety and care. Nurses also are fighting a proposal to reduce their pensions to 1960s levels. This is the largest nurses’ strike in Minnesota history. Congressman Ellison is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 2273, the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, which would provide federal standards ensuring safe staffing levels of registered nurses.
“I stand in solidarity with the women and men who are on the front lines every day taking care of the most vulnerable members of our communities. They know first-hand the realities of staffing cutbacks and we need to listen to them on this issue of life-and-death,” Ellison said. “Patient care is a top priority, and it’s unfortunate that nurses need to strike to make this point. This action is about protecting nurse-patient relationships and ensuring the best quality of care for all Minnesotans.”
“I am concerned that some hospitals seem more interested in hurting the nurses union than providing top quality care for their patients. Reports of hospitals paying up to $2,200 per day for non-union workers from across the country show they will pay to avoid the responsibility for better staffing formulas for nurses and patients,” Ellison said.