MNA Blog

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

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In: Home, Legislative Policy, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Endorsed candidates have pledged to work with nurses on key issues like the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act 

(St. Paul) – September 26, 2022 – Nurses of the Minnesota Nurses Association today endorsed nine additional candidates in races for 2022 elections. These endorsees include six for races for the Minnesota Legislature, including candidates recognized for their various levels of leadership and partnership with nurses to make progress on issues important to nurses and patients; the endorsements also include candidates running for the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.
… Read more about: Nurses endorse nine candidates in legislative, local races  »

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In: Action, Bargaining, Home, Nurses Strike, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

WATCH: MNA Press Conference on Final Day of Strike

(St. Paul and Duluth) – September 15, 2022 – Today, 15,000 nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) returned to work after their historic three-day strike, believed to be the largest private-sector nurses’ strike in United States history. Throughout the strike at 15 hospitals in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports, an overwhelming number of nurses walked the picket line at each hospital, joined by patients, fellow workers, elected officials, and other community supporters.
… Read more about: 15,000 nurses determined to win a fair contract to put patients before profits after historic strike    »

On:
In: Fairview, Home, Mental Health, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 12, 2022 – Today, the Minnesota Nurses Association responded to the announcement that the Minnesota Department of Health has found the proposed mental health facility to be operated by M Health Fairview and Acadia Healthcare to be in the public interest. MNA has raised concerns about the planned facility, citing recent hospital closures by M Health Fairview and the for-profit model of Acadia Healthcare which is out of step with Minnesotans’ and nurses’ values.
… Read more about: Statement from Minnesota Nurses Association on M Health Fairview and Acadia Mental Health Facility    »

On:
In: Home

For two and a half years, Registered Nurses with University of Wisconsin (UW) Health have sought recognition for their union in their fight to improve patient care and working conditions at UW Health in Madison. The 2,600 nurses at this Level 1 Trauma Center have worked on the frontlines of healthcare through a global pandemic. Now, like so many of our nurses here in Minnesota and nationwide, they are raising their voices in collective power to demand changes necessary to protect patient care and keep nurses at the bedside.

Nurses are the experts at the bedside. We know what it takes to keep nurses on the job, with the working conditions and support necessary to persevere in this incredibly challenging and rewarding career.
… Read more about: Statement in Support of University of Wisconsin Nurses Seeking Quality Patient Care and Union Recognition  »

On:
In: Bargaining, Duluth Bargaining, Home, Nurses Strike, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org
Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

 

(Duluth) – September 9, 2022 – This Sunday, September 11, 2022, Twin Ports nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association will gather with community supporters ahead of their historic strike which is set to begin Monday. At the community gathering on Sunday, nurses and supporters will hear from special guests including Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham. Nurses will share an update on negotiations and how members of the public can stand with nurses in their fight for fair contracts to improve patient care and working conditions at the bedside.
… Read more about: Twin Ports nurses to gather with community supporters ahead of historic strike   »

On:
In: Home, Nurses Strike

The following was released on September 9, 2022, by students at the University of Minnesota Medical School:

Minnesota nurses are on the precipice of the largest nursing strike in US history, and are calling
on healthcare networks to recognize that we must put patients before profit. We, as medical
students at the University of Minnesota Medical School, stand in solidarity with the over 15,000
nurses that will be striking starting September 12th. We must amplify their voices and emphasize
the immense value of every nurse on healthcare teams.

Studies clearly show that low nurse-to-patient ratios greatly impact patient safety: staffing levels
influence inpatient mortality rates as longer shifts and overtime hours increase the chances
of nursing errors and burnout.
… Read more about: Minnesota Medical School Students Stand in Solidarity with Minnesota Nurses’ Fight for Patients Before Profit  »

On:
In: Action, Bargaining, Duluth Bargaining, Home, Metro Bargaining, Nurses Strike, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Hospital executives threaten to lockout, fire nurses fighting to put patients before profits  

Today, 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities, Twin Ports, and Moose Lake announced their intent to strike on September 12 in their fight for fair contracts that put Patients Before Profits. In response, hospital executives have made a desperate attempt to further attack the collective bargaining rights of Minnesota nurses, demanding an additional step that has not been previously requested or required to attempt to prevent nurses from striking for better patient care and working conditions.  
… Read more about: BREAKING: Hospital executives launch desperate attack on collective rights of nurses fighting for better patient care and working conditions  »

On:
In: Action, Bargaining, Duluth Bargaining, Home, Metro Bargaining, Moose Lake, Nurses Strike, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses at 16 hospitals in the Twin Cities, Twin Ports, and Moose Lake to strike for three days beginning September 12 as hospital executives refuse solutions to short-staffing, retention and better patient care

As many hospital CEOs continue to take significant raises on multi-million-dollar salaries, executives offer nurses just 4 percent in average annual wage increases 

  
VIDEO: Watch video of nurses announcing their intent to strike.

(St.
… Read more about: 15,000 nurses to strike as they fight for fair contracts that put Patients Before Profits  »

On:
In: Action, Home, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org


15,000 Twin Cities and Twin Ports nurses recently voted to authorize a strike as hospitals executives refuse solutions to short-staffing, retention and better patient care

(St. Paul) – August 31, 2022 – Tomorrow, Thursday, September 1, 2022, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association will announce the next step in their fight for fair contracts to put patients before profits.The planned action comes after 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports recently voted to authorize a strike
… Read more about: Nurses to announce next step in fight for fair contracts that put Patients Before Profits  » as hospital executives continue to refuse solutions to the crises of short-staffing, retention and patient care that the same executives’ corporate healthcare policies created.

On:
In: Home, North Memorial, Racism

The following letter was sent to North Memorial Health Hospital by the MNA Negotiation Teams after a member of MNA staff was discriminated against and harassed while conducting official union business:

On August 12, 2022, the MNA North Memorial Health Hospital Negotiation Team and MNA Co-Chairs, with the support of their MNA Staff, were conducting official Union business in the cafeteria of North Memorial Health Hospital. These Union activities serve a critical purpose to our Union and ensure the democratic participation of over 1,000 Nurses at NMHH as we prepare for a historic strike involving 15,000 Registered Nurses across Minnesota.

While conducting official Union business, one of our MNA Staff, Isuru Herath, was approached by NMHH security staff in the presence of our elected Union leadership and members.
… Read more about: Racial Discrimination and Harassment of MNA Staff and Representatives at North Memorial Health Hospital  »