MNA Blog (Page 23)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

On:
In: COVID-19, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org 
“I thought you said we were essential?!”: Workers reject GOP proposal to exclude building service, food, childcare and other staff most at risk

(St. Paul) – September 30, 2021 – Essential workers responded to a plan released by the Republican members of the Frontline Worker Pay Work Group with disappointment and encouraged lawmakers to work together to find a solution that does not exclude essential workers from the frontline worker pay fund created by Governor Walz and the legislature.

“My parents work in the food service industry, and unfortunately, they got COVID.
… Read more about: Essential Workers Demand Fair, Fast Action from Frontline Pay Group  »

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In: COVID-19, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 29, 2021 – This Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 1 p.m. CST, MNA President Mary C. Turner, RN, and the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will meet to prioritize and advance final recommendations to inform federal COVID-19 response and to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on some of our most vulnerable communities, including inequities by race, ethnicity, geography, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other factors.

This will be the seventh meeting of the national task force since it was formed in February.
… Read more about: MNA President Turner, Biden-Harris COVID-19 Task Force to Meet on Federal Pandemic Response  »

On:
In: Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Shannon Cunningham
(o) 651-414-2838
(c) 651-269-1418
shannon.cunningham@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 9, 2021 – Recently, the MNA Board of Directors surveyed MNA members asking their positions on impending mandatory vaccination programs being put forth by Minnesota hospitals. After reviewing the results of the survey and the wide variety of member positions on these issues, the MNA BOD does not believe members are unified around any one position either for or against the mandatory vaccination programs. As a result of that, the MNA Board is releasing the following statement:

The Minnesota Nurses Association believes that voluntary vaccination programs along with other essential infection control measures such as optimal personal protective equipment, contact tracing, rapid testing and results, adequate staffing, hygiene, environmental controls, isolation policies, and paid COVID leave for healthcare workers who need to quarantine are the most effective strategy for a healthy population and that all those who can be vaccinated should be.
… Read more about: MNA Board of Directors’ Statement on Member Vaccine Mandate Survey  »

On:
In: Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Shannon Cunningham
(o) 651-414-2838
(c) 651-269-1418
shannon.cunningham@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 7, 2021 – The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Nurses Association is proud to announce endorsements of Mike Mayou for Duluth’s 2nd District City Council Seat, Renee Van Nett for Duluth’s 4th District City Council Seat, and Terese Tomanek and Joe Macor for the two at-large seats.

The endorsement process included a candidate questionnaire and an interview with candidates by a local screening committee of nurse members who live and work in Duluth.
… Read more about: MNA Nurses Endorse Candidates for Duluth City Council  »

On:
In: Politics, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Shannon Cunningham
(o) 651-414-2838
(c) 651-269-1418
shannon.cunningham@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – August 11, 2021 – The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Nurses Association is proud to announce the endorsement of Melvin Carter for St. Paul Mayor. The endorsement process included a candidate questionnaire and an interview with Carter by a local screening committee of nurse members who live and work in St. Paul. Those nurses made a recommendation to the nurse-elected MNA Board for the endorsement of Melvin Carter.
… Read more about: MNA Nurses Endorse Melvin Carter for St. Paul Mayor  »

On:
In: COVID-19, Uncategorized

By John Welsh, RN, MNA Health and Safety Committee member

This summer, the Biden Administration issued new workplace safety rules regarding COVID-19 that we believe give nurses important rights to protect themselves as the pandemic continues.

Notebook page with text OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration, on a table with a stethoscope and pen, medical concept.

While the COVID-19 vaccine and increased supply of Personal Protective Equipment have dramatically improved nurse safety compared to last year, COVID-19 remains dangerous, and healthcare workers remain vulnerable. These new rules are essential to hold employers accountable for worker safety.

Technically, what the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration did was determine that employee exposure to COVID-19 presents a grave danger to workers in healthcare settings and issued Emergency Temporary Standards to address the issue.
… Read more about: New OSHA COVID-19 rules give nurses important rights to protect themselves  »

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In: Press Releases

Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

 

(St. Paul) – July 29, 2021 – Nurse members of the Minnesota Nurses Association have filed a formal notice of their intent to hold an Informational Picket outside Allina’s WestHealth campus in Plymouth, Minn., on Tuesday, August 3.

MNA nurses have been negotiating a new contract with Allina for months, but Allina management has refused to provide the benefits nurses proposed to settle the labor contract.
… Read more about: MNA Nurses to Picket Allina WestHealth Over Contract  »

On:
In: COVID-19, Press Releases

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – June 3, 2021 – On Wednesday, July 28th, at 11:15 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda, essential workers – including nurses, janitors, food service workers, educators and other essential workers – will speak out ahead of the first public hearing on the $250 million Frontline Worker Pay Working Group.

Before heading in to testify at the hearing, speakers will share why this work is so critical to thousands of families and push legislators to ensure this money – a first step in working to honor the sacrifices frontline essential workers made this last year – is spent in a timely fashion, is easy for workers to access and reflects the sacrifices workers have made throughout the pandemic.
… Read more about: Essential Workers to Speak Out Ahead of First $250 Million Frontline Worker Pay Working Group Hearing  »

On:
In: COVID-19, EWELA, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
​
Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

July 14, 2021 (St. Paul) – Frontline workers who sacrificed during the COVID-19 pandemic spoke out Wednesday on the need for speedy, fair compensation from a $250 million fund created by the Legislature and administered by a new, nine-member working group.

“The table is set, it’s time to dig in,” said Mary C. Turner, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “Lawmakers have been promising to care for essential, frontline workers. It’s time to make sure these funds go to back pay and fulfill the needs of those workers who had to sacrifice pay and benefits during the pandemic.”

The coalition of groups, including SEIU, MNA, Education Minnesota, We Make MN, AFSCME Council 65, Unidos MN, CTUL, the Awood Center, the AFL-CIO and others, pushed legislators to make sure this money is used in a way that begins the process of supporting the workers who gave so much this last year.
… Read more about: Minnesota Essential Workers React to Announcement of Working Group Members for $250 Million Fund  »

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In: Nurses, Nursing Accent, Racial Diversity Committee, Volunteer

The following article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of the Minnesota Nursing Accent

It started 1,750 feet from where Jeanette Rupert grew up, and many of her family still lives today.
An MNA member and Registered Nurse, Jeanette had just gotten off the night shift on the morning of May 26, 2020, and was on her way to meet her brother to help a friend transition out of prison. When she arrived at her brother’s house, she learned that while she was taking care of patients at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, an event happened that would change her community and her life forever: the murder of George Floyd.
… Read more about: Nursing Accent Highlight: Turning tragedy to hope in one Minneapolis community  »