MNA Blog

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

On:
In: Events, Home, North Memorial, Nurses, Organizing, Press Releases

(St. Paul) – December 27, 2024 – This afternoon, a supermajority of Registered Nurses (RNs) from the North Memorial Health’s Maple Grove Hospital announced that they have organized and filed for an election vote to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA).  

Nurses’ decision to organize and seek union representation highlights their shared commitment to improving their workplace, supporting fellow nursing staff, and prioritizing patient wellbeing and care at Maple Grove. Nurses at Maple Grove have a long and demonstrated history of providing excellent care for their patients, often providing such excellent care in spite of high demands on their time, capacity, and limited access to support resources.
… Read more about: North Memorial’s Maple Grove Hospital Nurses Organize & File for MNA Representation  »

On:
In: Allina, Bargaining, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laurie Laker
(c) 612-741-0662
laurie.laker@mnnurses.org

 

(St. Paul) – December 19, 2024 – Registered Nurses (RNs) in the Cath-Lab Department at Allina’s United Hospital have voted overwhelmingly to join the existing Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) bargaining unit at United Hospital in St. Paul.

The nurses’ decision to organize and seek union representation highlights their shared commitment to improving their workplace and patient care. Nurses in the Cath-Lab have had longstanding issues with hospital management, including no language around mandatory low needs, as well as having lost numerous shifts due to situations beyond their control.
… Read more about: Cath Lab Nurses at Allina’s United Hospital Overwhelmingly Vote to Join Union  »

On:
In: Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Home, Labor Unions, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laurie Laker
(c) 612-741-0662
laurie.laker@mnnurses.org

(Duluth) – December 10, 2024 – Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) from Essentia’s East Market held a press conference on Monday evening at the Duluth Labor Temple to mark the one-year anniversary of their historic effort to secure union representation with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA).

Over the last year, the APPs have made significant strides in their organizing efforts, successfully forming their union and winning their election in July 2024. Despite the National Labor Relations Board’s certification of the vote, Essentia has repeatedly refused to recognize the union or come to the table to negotiate a contract in good faith.
… Read more about: Essentia East Market APPs Honor Union Anniversary, Call for Return to Bargaining Table  »

On:
In: Allina, Home, Press Releases, Workplace violence prevention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laurie Laker
(c) 612-741-0662
laurie.laker@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – December 3, 2024 – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has validated what nurses have been saying for years by citing Abbott Northwestern Hospital with over a dozen “serious” violations of workplace violence.

While nurses have been raising the alarm about the lack of workplace violence protections for some time, the recent OSHA violations span over a 6-month period from December of 2023 to May of 2024. According to OSHA, “a serious violation exists when the workplace hazard could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, unless the employer did not know or could not have known of the violation.” OSHA has levied a penalty of $83,600 after their investigation revealed alarming levels of workplace violence at the hospital, which has put nurses and other healthcare workers at significant risk.
… Read more about: Following OSHA Fines, MNA Calls for Allina Health to Take Action to Address Workplace Safety  »

On:
In: Home, Minnesota Nurses Association, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 27, 2024 – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) Board of Directors has named Elaina Hane the new Executive Director.

Elaina Hane brings over five years of experience in the labor industry, previously serving as an MNA Labor Relations Specialist, MNA’s Manager of Governance and Policy, MNA’s Manager of Field Operations, and most recently the Interim Executive Director position to which she was appointed in January of this year.

Hane also brings to the position over 17 years of experience as a registered bedside nurse, during which she was an active member of the Minnesota Nurses Association, serving on her bargaining unit’s negotiating team, as an elected delegate to MNA’s House of Delegates, and as a member of MNA’s Board of Directors, among other roles.
… Read more about: MNA announces appointment of new Executive Director     »

On:
In: Allina, Home, Nursing, Patient Safety, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

Contact:  Lauren Bloomquist

(c) 651-376-9709 

lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

 

New study from MNA includes review of Allina Health’s surrender to for-profit companies impacting workers, patients, and Allina’s business.

(St. Paul) – September 26, 2024 – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today released a new report on the how Allina Health’s ties to financial parties have comprised the healthcare giant’s mission, business, and patient care. The 23-page report includes a review of the two interconnected players influencing patient care, Allina Health System and Piper Sandler; studies the growing corporate influence in local healthcare at Allina; and analyzes how the profit-driven approach of executives has failed in large part.  
… Read more about: New report highlights consequences of Allina Health’s financial ties compromising its mission, business, and patient care       »

On:
In: Elections, Home, Legislative Policy, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Bloomquist
© 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

Nurse endorsements recognize current lawmakers and electoral candidates working to solve the crisis of understaffing and retention, hold corporate healthcare executives accountable and put patients before profits in our hospitals

(St. Paul) – September 24, 2024 – Nurses of the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced the endorsement of their final round of six candidates for the Minnesota House and one candidate for the Maplewood City Council races. These candidates are recognized for their various levels of leadership and partnership with nurses to make progress on issues important to nurses and patients.
… Read more about: Nurses announce final endorsements in 2024 Minnesota State House, Maplewood City Council races  »

On:
In: Allina, Home, layoffs, Mayo, Nurse Staffing, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 18, 2024 – The following statement is from the MNA Chairs at Owatonna Hospital:

“Nurses are very concerned about the recent announcement from Allina Health that they will be laying off nurses at Owatonna Hospital in the OR and Ambulatory Surgery units. We are particularly concerned by the role the Mayo Clinic is playing in this decision and the impact it will have on the Owatonna community.

At the Owatonna Hospital, Allina handles the acute care, and Mayo overseas the clinical side.
… Read more about: MNA Nurses’ Statement on layoff of Allina nurses at Owatonna Hospital  »

On:
In: Duluth, Elections, Home, Legislative Policy

By Jill Lebrun, RN, MNA Board of Directors 

On a gorgeous September Minnesota morning, I and other MNA board members went door-knocking in Hermantown, near Duluth. Our focus: Get Out The Vote (GOTV) for Mark Munger for State Representative, an advocate for quality healthcare. 

Mark Munger is a candidate in Minnesota House District 3B and is endorsed by MNA nurses through our screening process. We didn’t set out to change anyone’s minds…instead we knocked and used social pressure to get loyalists to the polls!  

As nurses, we believe in the power of lawmakers who will work with us to improve access to healthcare.
… Read more about: Electing Pro-Nurse, Pro-Union Candidates One Doorknock at a Time  »

On:
In: Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org 

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 2, 2024 – The following statement is from the MNA Tri-Chairs at Methodist Hospital: 

 “Our hearts are heavy today from the tragic news that our colleagues at Methodist Hospital were injured and killed by a motorist at the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park late Sunday night.  

The entire MNA family mourns the loss of those who were killed, and we are keeping those who were injured in our thoughts.
… Read more about: MNA Nurses’ Statement on the Tragedy at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park  »