From Naomi English, RN and Robert Pandisio, RN, Members of the MNA Allina Bargaining Team:
Today we highlighted our staffing proposal to management once again. Based on our last bargaining session, it became apparent that management could not grasp our proposal. Today, we introduced a modified version of the staffing proposal that was clear and concise. After more than 2 hours, management returned with no counterproposal or questions. Again, despite management’s rhetoric that they want to settle a contract, they said NO to our proposal.
We also modified and eliminated a number of other proposals, including our wage proposal which we modified to 4% in each year. We expect some more movement tomorrow in bargaining. Our team has talked to nurses in our hospitals and out on the informational picket line and RNs have made it clear what matters to them and we continue to stand up for those proposals. We have never seen bargaining like this, where management refuses to entertain any of the RNs’ bargaining proposals!
We also confronted management on some of their behavior. We demanded to know if they stood by the Minnesota Hospital Association spokesperson’s comments that nurse’s concerns in this contract fight amounted to “emotional drama.” One of our RN team members exclaimed, “How dare you!” We understand why nurses are so upset. How can management propose to take away our voice as patient advocates and expect us to not be passionate?
We also asked why Jeff Peterson and Tom O’Connor were not joining us at the bargaining table despite the fact that they call themselves “executive leadership” in their own emails to the RNs. We requested that, if they were going to write the nurses about bargaining and claim to be leading Allina’s side, they should join us at the bargaining table.
We also questioned management about their motivations in these negotiations. Why has Allina taken a relationship that was better than most and, instead of continuing it, proposed deep cuts to RNs and their patients? If management is true to their words, why are they preparing for a strike instead of bargaining in earnest? When we asked why this negotiations was such a departure from the past, the employer responded by saying that concessions are “in the eye of the beholder.”
Management has continued to say “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO…” to our proposals. We must stand united against not just their concessionary proposals but we must demand that management address the proposals that will move our profession forward. If management continues to dismiss the concerns of 12,000 RNs here in the Twin Cities, we must turn out on May 19th and say “NO!” to their terrible proposals.
Reminder: Close to 3000 nurses and supporters came out on May 6th to kick off OUR Nurse Week. Make sure you come out to United/St. Paul Children’s or Southdale tomorrow from 1:30PM-5:00PM.
More information will be available after bargaining tomorrow!