MNA Blog

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org
MNA-backed bills to put patient needs before corporate greed will be heard in House, Senate committees  
(St. Paul) – March 13, 2024 – Tomorrow, Thursday, March 14, 2024, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will turn out at the State Capitol to testify for hearings on legislation from the “Healing Greed Agenda,” a nurse-backed plan to put patient needs before corporate greed in our hospitals. Legislation from the agenda continues to advance at the state legislature, following hearings in House and Senate committees earlier this week.
… Read more about: Nurses to turn out and testify as “Healing Greed Agenda” advances this week  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig, MNA
612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Josh Keller, SEIU MN
612-270-2984
jkeller@seiumn.org

Marisa Powell Zengin, Doctors Council
646-599-6038
mrpdoctorscouncil@gmail.com

Planned closures of ICU and pediatric inpatient beds at Mercy Hospital and Unity Campus follow a pattern of corporate priorities by Allina executives 
(St. Paul) – March 13, 2024 – Community members, healthcare providers and workers with the Doctors Council, Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa today raised the alarm on the devastating impact on patients, workers, and the community of Allina executives’ planned closures at Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus in Fridley and Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
… Read more about: Healthcare providers, workers sound alarm on impact of Allina corporate closures to patients, community  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig, MNA
612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.orgJosh Keller, SEIU MN
612-270-2984
jkeller@seiumn.org

Marisa Powell Zengin, Doctors Council
646-599-6038
mrpdoctorscouncil@gmail.com

Speakers to address impact of ICU and pediatric inpatient closures at Mercy Hospital and Unity Campus, pattern of corporate priorities by Allina executives   

(St. Paul) – March 13, 2024 – Today, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will join Allina physicians with the Doctors Council and healthcare workers with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa to highlight the devastating impact on patients, workers, and the community of Allina executives’ plan to close the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus in Fridley, and to eliminate pediatric inpatient beds at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
… Read more about: Healthcare providers, workers to speak out on impact of Allina corporate closures to patients, community  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

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

MNA-backed bills to put patient needs before corporate greed will be heard in House, Senate committees  
(St. Paul) – March 11, 2024 – Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will turn out at the State Capitol to testify for hearings on legislation moving forward from the “Healing Greed Agenda,” a nurse-backed plan to put patient needs before corporate greed in our hospitals.

Healthcare in Minnesota used to be about taking care of each other.
… Read more about: Nurses to turn out and testify for “Healing Greed Agenda”  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org
Nurses will also turn out and testify at a House Health Committee hearing and will join striking nursing home workers for a rally on the Capitol steps 
(St. Paul) – March 4, 2024 – Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will hold their annual Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol, calling on legislators to take action on the “Healing Greed Agenda,” a set of bills moving forward at the legislature that would put patient needs before corporate greed in our healthcare system.
… Read more about: Attorney General Ellison to kick off MNA Day on the Hill as nurses call for action to put patient needs before corporate greed in hospitals  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

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

(Duluth) – March 1, 2024 – St. Luke’s announced today that the health system has finalized its affiliation with Wisconsin-based Aspirus Health. The following is a statement from Larissa Hubbartt, RN, and Sierra Dyer, RN, Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) Chairs at St. Luke’s Duluth.

“We are hopeful about this affiliation between St. Luke’s and Aspirus. Their commitment to preserving local decision-making reflects a shared dedication to community-centered care, and to the mission of St. Luke’s nurses to put the Patient Above All Else.
… Read more about: Statement on St. Luke’s Affiliation with Aspirus Health  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org
MNA applauds MDH for protecting public interest in Minnesota for patients, workers and communities
(St. Paul) – March 1, 2024 – Nurses at the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) applaud the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for listening to patients, workers, and community members and putting patient needs ahead of corporate greed with their ruling that the for-profit Nobis Rehabilitation is not in the public interest.

In January, MNA submitted a letter to MDH in opposition to the for-profit hospital proposal, writing in part: “Every day, nurses confront the ongoing staff shortages in our hospitals and experience firsthand the mental health crisis in our state.
… Read more about: Nurses celebrate denial of corporate for-profit care in Minnesota  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.orgLauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

Nurses win union election; will bargain collectively for better patient care and nurse working conditions

(St. Paul) – February 29, 2024 – Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street today celebrated a unanimous vote to form a union, represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). Nurses filed for election in late January and cast their ballots today.

“We are excited to be union nurses and to gain a voice in our workplace so that we can continue to provide high-quality, safe patient care,” said Holly Swedberg, a Registered Nurse at Duluth Clinic 2nd Street.
… Read more about: Nurses at Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 2nd Street Vote Unanimously for Union with MNA  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

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

Nurses seek a seat at the table amid corporate healthcare closures, to protect care and working conditions for nurses and patients  

[WATCH] Newly organized nurses held a livestream today to celebrate their union vote. Watch here. (St. Paul) – February 29, 2024 – Nurses employed at the Allina Health Cancer Institute (AHCI) Wednesday celebrated the overwhelming vote of nurses there to join together in a union, represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA).
… Read more about: Allina Health Cancer Institute nurses vote overwhelmingly for union with MNA  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

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

Latest consolidation underscores need to hold executives accountable to patient needs, not corporate greed  

(St. Paul) – February 13, 2024 – Today, Allina Health executives announced their plan to close Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and surgical services at Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus in Fridley, and to close pediatric inpatient beds at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. In a letter delivered to the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today, Allina executives stated their intent to lay off 63 MNA full-time equivalent (FTE) Registered Nurse positions at Unity Campus by June of this year as a result of these closures.
… Read more about: Allina executives continue corporate assault on patient care access with closures at Mercy Hospital and Unity Campus  »