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.
After MNA filed its required notices, hospital executives are now demanding nurses file an additional 30-day notice with the state Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS), despite the fact that BMS does not have jurisdiction over private sector employers. This is why hospital management has never previously questioned MNA work stoppages using this manufactured barrier, including the three-day strike at Allina’s WestHealth facility in 2021, the 2016 strikes by MNA nurses at Allina Health facilities, or the 2010 strike by Twin Cities MNA nurses.
The following is a statement from the MNA Nurse Negotiating Teams:
“It is clear that hospital executives are feeling the power of 15,000 nurses fighting for our patients and our profession. We will not be intimidated by their attempts to silence or scare us, and we intend to proceed with a strike to win fair contracts to put patients before profits.
“Hospital executives have already driven nurses away from the bedside by their refusal to solve the crises of staffing and retention in our hospitals, and we hope they will not be so brash as to fire nurses for standing up to demand better.
“If hospital executives want to avoid a strike on September 12, they should spend less time and money on lawyers and more time working with nurses to settle fair contracts to improve patient care and working conditions in our hospitals.”
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