MNA Blog (Page 99)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

MNA Daily NewsScan: June 15, 2012 – Unsafe Staffing – Firefighter Edition

On: June 15, 2012

In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

What is this? The MNA Daily NewsScan rounds up the day’s biggest nursing, health care and organized labor stories. As news unfolds in real-time, we update the NewsScan with new links and info, so check back often!

Stories we’re scanning:

Labor

Unnecessary Risk: Minneapolis firefighters tell state legislators about the risks to personal and public safety due to staffing and budget cuts.
Sutter Nurses Strike Recap: View photos from the one-day strike in California and find out more about the situation.

MNA Daily NewsScan, June 14, 2012: No unions = huge wage gap; Mich. nurses deliver big message to state

On: June 14, 2012

In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

Stories we’re scanning:

HEALTH CARE

Health Cost Relief Only Temporary If health care spending isn’t brought in line with overall economic growth, Americans will eventually face agonizing choices between paying medical bills and funding other priorities such as education and infrastructure.

NURSING

Kansas City Nurses Reaffirm Commitment to NNU A spokeswoman for the National Nurses Organizing Committee of National Nurses United said the vote this week was 260 to 92 in favor of the union.

LABOR

America Without A Union Movement? When labor was at its numerical apogee in 1955, the wealthiest 10 percent claimed just 33 percent of the nation’s income.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, June 14, 2012: No unions = huge wage gap; Mich. nurses deliver big message to state »

Join MNA Nurses at the Twin Cities Pride Parade June 24

On: June 13, 2012

In: Activism, Nurses, Organizing, Politics, Uncategorized

MNA Daily NewsScan: June 13, 2012 – Sutter RNs Begin Strike, Robin Hood Ready?

On: June 13, 2012

In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

Stories we’re scanning:

Labor

Sutter RNs Begin Strike: Despite amassing more than $4 Billion in profits since 2005, California-based Sutter Health is trying to impose massive cuts that would negatively impact both patients and nurses. Follow National Nurses United on Twitter for the latest updates on today’s strike by Sutter RNs.
Victory! Thanks to the help of the Occupy Homes MN movement and many others, MNA RN Colleen Espinosa’s long battle to save her home from foreclosure by Citibank was successful.

Sign up now for MNA’s Special “Robin Hood Tax” June 19 Event!

On: June 12, 2012

In: Activism, Labor Unions, Politics

MNA Daily NewsScan, June 12, 2012: American exceptionalism? Not when it comes to HC; Sutter RNs strike update

On: June 12, 2012

In: Uncategorized

Stories we’re scanning:

HEALTH CARE

Health Care Costs Causing More Americans to Go Without Needed Care Health care costs are weighing on Americans’ minds — and sapping their budgets, according to a new survey that shows that within the last year, more than half of people needing medical care didn’t get it because of the expense.

U.S. Lags In Bettering Value of Health Care While the U.S. health system has the highest per capita cost of the 12 nations studied — spending 17.6% of its gross domestic product on healthcare — it ranked at the bottom in terms of readiness to implement a value-based care system.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, June 12, 2012: American exceptionalism? Not when it comes to HC; Sutter RNs strike update »

MNA Daily NewsScan: June 11, 2012 – Nurses Are (Financial) Key, Pensions Under Assault

On: June 11, 2012

In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

Stories we’re scanning:

Nursing

Listen Up, CEOs: Story cites Nurses as key to making or breaking future margins.

Labor

Pensions Under Assault: Public employees in California seeing retirement benefits rolled back – even for current employees.
Op/Ed: Labor Unions aren’t the problem with U.S. Postal Service – Congress is.

MNA Daily NewsScan: June 8, 2012 – Mayo Moving In, St. Louis RNs say “Yes!” to NNU and more!

On: June 8, 2012

In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

Stories we’re scanning:

Health Care

Mayo Moving In: The Star Tribune notes that Rochester, MN-based Mayo Clinic has reached a tentative agreement to purchase and take over Fairview’s Red Wing Health Services location.
Young, Uninsured and in Debt: The Commonwealth Fund Health Insurance Tracking Survey of Young Adults finds that between November 2010 and November 2011, an estimated 13.7 million young adults ages 19–25 stayed on or joined their parents’ health plans, including 6.6 million who likely would not have been able to do so prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

MNA Daily NewsScan, June 7, 2012: MA RNs defeat unlicensed personnel measure; Olympic gold may be tarnished

On: June 7, 2012

In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING

Massachusetts Nurses Derail Proposed Law Allowing Unlicensed Personnel to Give Meds The amendment that would have allowed unlicensed personnel to administer medications was withdrawn from the payment reform bill

LABOR UPDATES

State Unions Reach Tentative Agreement Covering 21,000 Workers AFSCME and MAPE have reached a tentative deal on a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the State of Minnesota.

AFL-CIO – Olympic Medal Producer Tarnishes Spirit of the Games Summer Olympic Games medal supplier, Rio Tinto—a union-busting global mining conglomerate with a track record of worker and environmental abuse—should be kept off the podium in London, says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, June 7, 2012: MA RNs defeat unlicensed personnel measure; Olympic gold may be tarnished »

MNA Daily NewsScan: June 6, 2012 – Grading Hospitals on Patient Safety, CA Nurses Set to Strike, Sugar Workers Head to HQ

On: June 6, 2012

In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

Stories we’re scanning:

Health Care

MHA Questions Validity of Patient Safety Data: The Star Tribune notes that a new attempt by a consumer group to give hospitals a letter grade when it comes to patient safety is being pooh-poohed by the Minnesota Hospital Association. Fear not, because we have a solution: Want to know the truth about patient safety at your hospital?