MNA Blog (Page 134)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

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In: Bargaining

From Nellie Munn, RN, Member of MNA’s Children’s Bargaining Team:

“Effective patient advocacy depends on the collective voice of the nurses.”

Today we presented management with a more focused package of proposals aimed at reaching a fair contract settlement that includes gains in language around safe staffing and patient protection. In this package we offered to drop some of our proposals, conditioned upon management dropping some of theirs and accepting proposals that reflect our top priorities.

In an effort to ensure staffing levels to provide safe care and to advocate for patients, we presented our staffing proposal once again.
… Read more about: Children’s Bargaining Update (May 6)  »

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In: Bargaining, Uncategorized

From Kevin Campbell, RN, Member of MNA’s Fairview Bargaining Team:

Management reluctantly talked about wages preceded by a well-orchestrated litany of wage freezes in other industries such as auto industries, medical products, St Jude’s medical, State employees.  Not comparing us to other nurses.  Wages 0% first year, 1% second year, and 2% third year.

Hospital was given the nurses’ counter proposals preserving MNA insurance, budgeting for staffing @ 115%, infectious disease proposal, educational enhancements and technology language.

The hospital came back with a “generous” offer to drop 18 of their proposals “no strings attached.”  They continued to decline to talk about patient care or patient safety saying it is too costly.
… Read more about: Fairview Bargaining Update (May 6)  »

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In: Bargaining

The following stories were shared today (May 5) by members of MNA RN’s from the Allina Bargaining team:

My name is Dawn Yetter and I am an RN on 3 West at Unity hospital. I am here to describe some of the staffing issues on 3W that cause concerns for the RNs who work on our unit. We are a surgical and orthopedic unit where we primarily care for post-op patients.  On the average day shift, the RN cares for 4 patients at one time; on a PM shift, 4-5; on the night shift 5, sometimes 6. We have 44 beds total , down 3 different hallways.
… Read more about: Allina Bargaining Team: RN Stories  »

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In: Bargaining

Allina RNs joined us as members of the negotiating team today to talk about our staffing proposal.  Those members who joined the team were Laura Joanis, Theresa Biles-Kraft, Cheryl Benson, Linda Bendix, Tabitha Newman, Lenae Haas, Melissa Buganski, Dawn Yetter, Liana Land, Georgine Malone, Cathy Johnson, Katy Nelson, David Vidmar, Mary Hoversten, Carol Larson, Linda Schafer, Patty Koenig, Priscilla Taylor, Hilda Makori-Anching, and Linda Schafer.  Each one of our members told stories of their work, patient assignments and shift experiences that addressed our staffing proposals.  Our proposal is as follows:

  1. Budget all units at no less than 115% of capacity
  2. Jointly develop a staffing plan
  3. Incorporate patient acuity and nursing intensity
  4. Prior to opening of any new units or service line. 

    5. … Read more about: Allina Bargaining Update (May 5)  »

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In: Bargaining

Hello fellow RNs-

Today was very interesting at the bargaining table. We were again greeted with coffee and bagels from our co-workers at St. Joes, thanks again for all of your support.

Today we put a proposal on the table that we thought expressed the concerns of our fellow RNs and sent a message to the employer that we are putting patient care first. We proposed that the employer accept our staffing proposal, our infectious disease proposal, our education proposal, and our proposal on technology. In exchange for this acceptance we proposed to drop several of our proposals in exchange for some of their proposals being dropped. 
… Read more about: HealthEast Bargaining Update (May 4)  »