Labor Unions (Page 38)

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Today marks the official start to formal employment contract negotiations between 12,000 Minnesota Nurses and six Twin Cities hospital systems. Below is an overview of the key issues and some facts and statistics.

ISSUE SUMMARY

  • More than 12,000 Minnesota Nurses formally began labor contract negotiations with six Twin Cities hospital systems (North Memorial, HealthEast, Allina, Methodist, Children’s and Fairview) on March 16, 2010.
  • Key issues during the negotiations include nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and the hospitals’ desire to slash the nurses’ long-standing pension plan benefits by one-third.

KEY DATES

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All About the Money
The Employers overarching principle is this: They want to cut your pension.

Some Effects of Employers Pension proposals:
— You will earn a lower pension benefit for any work after 1-1-2011….GUARANTEED

— You will only earn credits to your pension benefit if you work in a .5 or greater position.

— Pension benefits will be cut for every nurse whether you take a normal retirement, early retirement, or disability retirement.

All proposals have been shared. We will be meeting with the Federal Mediator for the next bargaining session on March 17th, 2010.
… Read more about: Pension Bargaining – March 10 Update  »

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Employers Propose Major Reductions
Our pension plan is the envy of registered nurses around the country. It is a benefit that we negotiated years ago and have worked hard to protect. Many of us have worked for years in our hospitals, providing quality patient care every day, and deserve a pension that will allow us to retire when we are ready.

Pension bargaining with our employers got under way on Friday, March 5. We proposed moderate improvements to our pension. Our employers, on the other hand, proposed three major reductions in pension benefits.

Our Proposals

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In: Activism, Labor Unions, Nurses, Politics

As MNA President Linda Hamilton said so eloquently (and accurately) in the video above, “Nurses are in the House!” More than 900 RNs and nursing students gathered at the State Capitol yesterday, and our voices were heard loud and clear by dozens of Minnesota legislators and leaders, including Attorney General Lori Swanson and others. Swanson was among those who spoke at a standing-room-only noontime rally in the Capitol Rotunda, and throughout the day hundreds of nurses met with their legislators and representatives to advocate for patient safety, restoring the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program and other important issues. Special tanks to all of you who showed up and spoke up on behalf of RNs and patients!
… Read more about: Minnesota Nurses Day on the Hill 2010 Recap  »

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Tomorrow (Feb. 23), more than 900 Minnesota RNs and nursing students will descend upon the State Capitol in St. Paul for the 2010 Nurses Day On The Hill rally and event. Hope to see you there! If you’re coming out or going to be at the Capitol, here are some of the highlights:

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The campaign to Save GAMC continues.  Visit www.SaveGAMC.org for more information.

General Assistance Medical Care Vote This Thursday
We Can’t Afford To Wait – Call Your State Representative Today

The 85,000 Minnesotans (including 8,000 military Veterans) who rely on GAMC need your voice now more than ever!

Thursday morning, February 18th, the House will take a vote on the GAMC bill (House File 2680) to either pass or defeat the measure.  We need you to call your House member today to ensure that both Democrats and Republicans support health care coverage for the poorest and sickest single adults.
… Read more about: Special Update: Help Save GAMC!  »

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Uj8jNRD9U]

In case you missed it, here’s a short video summarizing what was truly an amazing turnout from hundreds upon hundreds of Minnesotans from all over the state and all walks of life. We all came together to demand our legislators restore the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program, which provides health insurance for the poor and homeless in our state. Truly an incredible event!
… Read more about: 2010 Save GAMC Rally – A day to remember!  »

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

(Posted Feb. 3 at 5:oo p.m. Central)

Dear Fellow MNA Member,

We wanted to share with you the very latest on a critical patient safety issue involving the Minnesota Board of Nursing and the scope of practice for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).

The MNA has serious concerns for the safety of patients and nurses regarding the Board of Nursing’s proposal to re-interpret and expand the current scope of practice of a Licensed Practical Nurse in the areas of assessment, delegation, and supervision with no additional education.

At today’s Board of Nursing Practice Committee Meeting, members of MNA, faculty members of Minnesota nursing schools and LPNs testified for more than 90 minutes about this issue.
… Read more about: Update on Critical Patient Safety Issue and MN Board of Nursing  »