MNA Blog

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Duluth, Essentia, Home

My name is Jenna, and I am a Hospitalist at Essentia Health in Duluth.

I first experienced Duluth as a 20-year-old college student visiting with my mom to run the Garry Bjorklund half marathon. I thought it was a beautiful and intriguing place. At that time I was in school in Madison, WI and still figuring out my path in life. A few years later I was a physician assistant (PA) student at Duke in Durham, NC. I had pivotal student rotation experiences—I took care of all ages, I saw discrepancies in care and facilities on different sides of town and the state, I saw life born and touched the hands of life passing away.
… Read more about: They live here, too: The providers who keep northeast Minnesota healthy  »

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In: Allina, Corporate Healthcare, Home, layoffs, Nurses, Press Releases, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
(c) 651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

Erin Moriarty
(c) 651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

(Fridley, MN) – Sept 24, 2025 – Allina Health’s plan to shut down the inpatient chemical dependency unit at Mercy Hospital–Unity Campus in February 2026 has sparked outrage from nurses, patients, and community advocates, who warn the closure will devastate access to lifesaving addiction care in the north metro.

“Closing this unit and scattering patients elsewhere in the hospital will be disastrous,” said Laurie Brodersen, RN. “This is a locked unit with experienced nurses who know how to care for this vulnerable population and prevent relapse.
… Read more about: Unity Inpatient Chemical Dependency Unit closure threatens patient safety, say nurses  »

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In: Advanced Practice Providers, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Labor Unions, Press Releases, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
(c) 651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

Erin Moriarty
(c) 651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

More than 400 APPs highlight their vital role in healthcare and call for leadership to respect and support their contributions.

(Duluth, MN) – Sept 22, 2025 – This National Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Week, more than 400 APPs in Essentia Health’s East Market are celebrating their essential role in healthcare while demanding that Essentia’s leadership finally recognize their contributions. Nearly half of all patients in the Essentia system are cared for by an APP, making them the backbone of care in northern Minnesota.
… Read more about: APPs Celebrate National APP Week, Caring for Nearly Half of Essentia Patients  »

On:
In: Elections, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
(c) 651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

Erin Moriarty
(c) 651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul, MN) – September 19, 2025 – Nurses of the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced their endorsement of Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger for Senate District 47.

Endorsed candidates are recognized for their leadership and collaboration with nurses to address critical issues affecting both nurses and patients. To earn nurses’ endorsement, candidates must show dedication to MNA priorities, including resolving the nurse retention and patient care crisis, opposing the growing corporatization and consolidation in healthcare, and advocating for workers’ rights to a collective voice that upholds dignity and respect in the workplace.
… Read more about: Nurses announce endorsement for Minnesota State Senate District 47  »

On:
In: Elections, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

Erin Moriarty
651-202-0845
Erin.Moriarty@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul, MN) – August 21, 2025 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced the endorsement of two candidates who have demonstrated leadership in supporting safe hospital staffing levels, worker rights, and patient care. These candidates are recognized for their commitment to solving issues that impact both nurses and patients.

To be endorsed by nurses, candidates must demonstrate commitment to MNA priorities, including ensuring safe staffing, addressing nurse retention, holding hospital executives accountable, standing up to the corporatization of healthcare, advocating for lower healthcare costs and supporting the rights of all workers seeking dignity and respect in the workplace.
… Read more about: Nurses endorse St. Paul Mayoral and Minnesota State House candidates who stand with patients and nurses  »

On:
In: Duluth, Essentia, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham

651-269-1418

shannon.cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

(Duluth, MN) – August 20, 2025 – The following is a statement released by Minnesota Nurses Association President Chris Rubesch, RN: 

Nurses and healthcare workers at Essentia Health deserve a safe workplace where they can care for patients without fear of intimidation or retaliation. During MNA’s strike in July, clinic nurses and APPs on the picket line received threats from their direct supervisor at Essentia’s Superior and 3rd Street Urgent Care Clinics. He threatened to run them over with his car and shoot them with a paintball gun while they exercised their legal right to strike.
… Read more about: Statement from MNA President on Essentia supervisor’s threats to workers  »

On:
In: Advanced Practice Providers, Bargaining, Duluth, Duluth Bargaining, Essentia, Healthcare, Home, Nurses, Nurses Strike, Nursing, Press Releases, ULP Strike, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org 

 

Duluth, MN – July 25, 2025 – On Tuesday, clinic nurses, surgery center nurses, healthcare workers at Solvay Hospice House, and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) concluded a powerful strike across Essentia Health facilities that involved nearly 700 frontline workers. The two-week strike by nurses and healthcare workers and 13-day strike by APPs brought statewide attention to Essentia’s unfair labor practices, including unlawful intimidation, surveillance, and clear attempts to bust the union. 

Yet, even after the strike’s end, Essentia is continuing to keep on travel nurses, when former striking healthcare workers are available and want to return to work. 
… Read more about: Negotiations move forward as Essentia delays return of striking workers  »

On:
In: Advanced Practice Providers, Essentia, Home, Nurses, Press Releases, ULP Strike

Contact: Shannon Cunningham

651-269-1418

Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Duluth, MN) – July 22, 2025 – Hundreds of frontline caregivers at Essentia Health will return to work following a powerful Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. The group includes over 300 clinic nurses and 400 Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) who walked off the job to expose Essentia executives’ refusal to negotiate in good faith and their numerous ULPs, such as threats of violence against striking workers and interference in union activities. The two-week first contract ULP strike of clinic nurses and healthcare workers will end Wednesday morning.
… Read more about: Essentia Health clinic workers and Advanced Practice Providers end historic ULP strike  »

On:
In: Action, Duluth, Essentia, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Organizing, Press Releases, ULP Strike, Unions

Union Demands Immediate Action After Weeks of Silence from Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

(Duluth, MN) – July 18, 2025 — Nurses at Essentia Health’s Superior and 3rd Street Clinics have reported multiple instances of threatening and retaliatory behavior by their direct supervisor. Despite formal notification to Essentia Health management on June 26, the employer has taken no public action and has not responded to the reports.

The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), representing the affected nurses, is demanding the immediate cessation of this behavior and accountability from Essentia Health.
… Read more about: Nurses Report Threats of Physical Violence and Intimidation from Supervisor at Essentia Health Clinics  »

On:
In: Bargaining, Healthcare, Home, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Shannon Cunningham
651-269-1418
Shannon.Cunningham@mnnurses.org

 

(St. Paul, MN) – July 14, 2025 – Thousands of nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) at hospitals across the Twin Cities metro and in Duluth finished voting today to ratify new contracts, concluding months of negotiations aimed at addressing staffing, patient care, retention and workplace conditions. These agreements mark the result of four months of focused negotiations, during which MNA nurses met hospital leaders at the table to demand accountability and uphold patient safety.

The contracts cover thousands of nurses across the following hospital systems: Allina Health, M Health Fairview, Essentia Health, Aspirus St.
… Read more about: Thousands of hospital nurses ratify new contracts across Twin Cities and Duluth  »