MNA Blog (Page 90)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

LABOR

The Chicago teachers strike enters its fifth day as “number crunching” apparently delayed a deal that both sides had hoped would be reached on Thursday.

HEALTH CARE

Op/Ed: Listen to front-line care solutions for inadequate staffing.

Bedside Manner Matters: In a follow-up to a smaller study published last year, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have concluded that more empathetic physicians achieve better clinical outcomes.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 14, 2012: End in Sight for Striking Chicago Teachers?  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

 

LABOR

As their Strike enters its fourth day, news reports say the Chicago Teachers Union is close to reaching a deal with city officials.

Op/Ed from The New York Times – Unions Are Striking Back, at Last

HEALTH CARE

The federal government has found that collection practices at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview violated federal rules on patient rights as well as a law that calls on hospitals to stabilize emergency room patients before asking for payment.

On the health insurance front, employers and their workers are paying an average of 4 percent more this year in premiums for health insurance – an increase that’s more than double the rate of wage growth from last year.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 13, 2012: Feds say Fairview Violated Patient Rights, Laws with Debt Collection Tactics  »

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In: Activism, Politics

[youtube=http://youtu.be/sOGjZoI55UE]

It may seem like a simple thing, requiring Minnesotans to show their photo ID before they vote. As a matter of fact, some of your friends and neighbors still think it is. You might even think it makes sense.

That’s why we want you to watch this new video . The voter restriction amendment is far from simple and that is why we oppose it. As a matter of fact, the legislature made it very complicated. It will cost millions to implement and ends Minnesota’s 40-year tradition of Election Day registration.

The voter restriction amendment being considered here is the most restrictive in the country, placing hurdles between the ballot box and Minnesotans serving in the military, seniors and young voters.
… Read more about: This Fall, Vote NO on Voter ID  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

 

LABOR

The Chicago Teachers Strike enters Day 3 – read the latest developments.

Find out via National Nurses United’s Blog how you can help Chicago Teachers!

HEALTH CARE

MPR has a story out on the controversial new Community Paramedic certification program impacting rural Minnesota, and the coverage includes MNA’s take on the situation.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 12, 2012: Chicago Teachers Strike Enters Day 3; Community Paramedic Ranks Growing in MN  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

 

Across the United States, we remember September 11.

LABOR

The Chicago Teachers Strike has become the biggest Labor-related story of 2012, and enters its second day in the Windy City.

A group of 325 Nurses in Kansas City represented by National Nurses United will vote this week whether or not to ratify a new contract offer that restructures wages and institutes stricter staffing levels.

HEALTH CARE

Why does your vote matter this fall? Consider the impact your choice can have on health care for children in the United States:

[youtube=http://youtu.be/a8SiheO7XlQ]
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 11, 2012: Never Forget; Chicago Teachers Strike Continues; KC RNs to Vote  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

LABOR

Chicago teachers went on strike Monday for the first time in 25 years after their union and district officials failed to reach a contract agreement despite intense weekend negotiations that the union said were productive but still failed to adequately address issues such as job security and teacher evaluations.

One Teacher’s Story: A Chicago teacher explains in a powerful, personal blog post why he’s going on strike.

The United Steelworkers have announced a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with ArcelorMittal USA covering 14,000 workers, including 330 at the Minorca Mine outside Virginia, Minn.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 10, 2012: Chicago Teachers on Strike; HMOs in MN again see strong profits  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

LABOR

In a major win for nurses, patients and three Texas communities, registered nurses (RNs) in El Paso, Corpus Christi and Brownsville gave final approval to contracts yesterday in first-ever collective bargaining agreements with National Nurses United.

Labor negotiations will resume in early October for workers at Hibbing Taconite, United Taconite and other facilities owned by Cliffs Natural Resources, according to the Star Tribune.

HEALTH CARE

Op/Ed: Why health care leaders can’t ignore front-line employees

The biggest key to patient satisfaction isn’t a fancy hospital lobby or high-tech equipment; it’s the staff, according to a survey released yesterday by J.D.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 7, 2012: Don’t Mess With Texas (RNs); Why Front-Line Health Care Employees Matter  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING

Nurses, Docs Overestimate Care   The disconnect between the quality of care a panel of experts found in the records and the quality of care the nurses and doctors thought they had delivered doesn’t mean the patients were any worse off.  Instead, the researchers suggest it means the doctors and nurses may need to be more critical of their performances.

HEALTH CARE

Ascension’s Big Hospital Buy Likely to Face Anti-Trust Scrutiny   Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system, operates about 80 U.S. hospitals with more than 17,000 patients, and reported nearly $20 billion in assets and about $16 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2011. 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, September 6, 2012: Overestimating care; more corporate mergers; orchestra bosses out of tune  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

LABOR

There is plenty of Union angst at Minnesota-based SuperValu, according to a recent Star Tribune story.

From The New York Times: Ohio Unions Battle Conservative “Super PACs” For Votes.

Also, The L.A. Times reports that teachers unions’ alliances with the Democratic Party are fraying.

HEALTH CARE

Parent engagement and daily care cut 20 percent of central-line infections according to a new study from Johns Hopkins.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 5, 2012: “Union Angst” at SuperValu; Unions Do Battle with Conservative Super PACs  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Right to Work

LABOR

The Moral Test of Government    Romney and Ryan and their corporate backers know this, and both candidates have challenged the very idea of a worker’s right to stick together and bargain for basic rights — including fair pay, health care and retirement benefits.

Mid-Level Jobs Squeezed in Economic Forecast   “The big story is there’s a lot of jobs at the top end and bottom end, but not a lot of jobs in the middle,” said Drew Digby, the region’s labor analyst for DEED. “There is a continuing squeeze for manufacturing and government jobs while classic middle class jobs, like teachers, will be harder and harder to get.”

Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement   U.S.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Sept. 4, 2012: Labor Day reflections; Nurses on cleanup duty  »