Unions

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In: Duluth, Essentia, Home, Labor Unions, Organizing, Press Releases, Unions

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact:  Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

(Duluth) – November 27, 2023 – Tomorrow, November 28, 2023, healthcare workers at Essentia East Market Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) will hold a press conference to announce organizing and filing for an election vote to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association.  The APPs filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board on November 27, and an election date has yet to be determined. 

 “I believe that unionizing will give us the collective voice to advocate for necessary changes in our working conditions so that we can bring our best selves to work each day, and for protection against policies that are harmful to staff and patient care.
… Read more about: Healthcare workers at Essentia East Market Advanced Practice Providers to announce organizing, filing for union representation  »

On:
In: Allina, Bargaining, Labor Unions, Minnesota Nurses Association, Press Releases, Unions

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

(St. Paul) – September 22, 2023 – On Thursday, an overwhelming majority of Allina’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) voted to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association.

“The conditions of our work have become unsustainable, as Allina has left us chronically short-staffed, leading to a high turnover rate. This means we can’t always respond to victims of violence, leaving them to either go to another hospital system or wait hours for a specialized nurse to respond. We want to be there for our patients who need our services, which is why we voted to have a collective voice in our workplace by unionizing with MNA,” said Stephanie Gunderson, an Allina SANE RN.
… Read more about: Allina Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners vote to affiliate with Minnesota Nurses Association  »

On:
In: Home, Mayo, Press Releases, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

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) – July 25, 2022 – The following is a statement from Tammie Fromm, Operating Room RN at Mayo Clinic Mankato, on the outcome of today’s vote at the Mayo Mankato hospital:

“For decades, since long before Mayo Health System purchased our community’s hospital, nurses here have proudly stood together to fight for better conditions for local workers and patients in our hospitals.
… Read more about: Statement on Mankato Mayo Decertification Vote  »

On:
In: Action, Essentia, Healthcare, Press Releases, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(Duluth) – March 25, 2022 – At 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022, Duluth nurses will be joined by area labor leaders and elected officials to call on Essentia to do right by workers at their new outpatient surgical center at Miller Hill Health Plaza.  

At the event, Duluth nurses will share their concerns about the effect of Essentia’s corporate healthcare policies on employees and patient care as the health system prepares to open the new surgical facility.
… Read more about: Duluth nurses, elected officials, labor leaders to call on Essentia to do right by workers at new facility  »

On:
In: Action, Education, Labor Unions, Unions

Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) Teachers and Education Support Professionals in the Minneapolis Public Schools are on strike for safe and stable schools. This is the first strike in 50 years in this district.

Their fight parallels what nurses and other healthcare workers are experiencing. Top-down, corporatized control of schools and teaching is hurting students and driving families out of the district, so MFT members are demanding:

On:
In: Member Blog, Unions

By Lori Christian, RN, BS, CEN
MNAF Chair

The Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF) is now accepting scholarship applications for MNA Members or Associate Members in good standing for the 2020-2021 academic year. As Chair of MNAF, it is a great honor to give these scholarships to deserving MNA members!

Our recent Educator of the Year award was presented to Yisehak Tura, MS, RN, OCN, who received one of our scholarships and now teaches nurses. What a way to pay it forward! He is still an active Union Member who works part-time as a bedside nurse as well.
… Read more about: MNAF Scholarship Deadline Coming Soon  »

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In: Action, Activism, Home, Labor Unions, Nurses, Organizing, Unions

By Cameron Fure

MNA Political Organizer

 

On Monday, July 15, workers at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Shakopee held a picket to bring light to unfair working conditions at their sprawling worksite in the southeast metro. Workers from New York, Seattle, San Francisco and locations across Europe were also holding demonstrations to raise awareness on “Prime Day,” which is one of the largest shopping days of the year.

 

Workers were highlighting issues such as humane workloads, job security around not hiring “temp” workers, stopping unfair write-ups, investment in communities, and ending retaliation.

 

The event was organized by the Awood Center, which seeks to bring power to East African workers.
… Read more about: It’s a Prime Day to Stand up for Workers  »

nurse workplace violence

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In: Bargaining, Home, Legislative Policy, Nurse education, Patient Safety, Politics, Unions, Women, Workplace violence prevention

By Jackie Russell, RN JD

Nursing Practice and Regulatory Affairs Specialist

 

On the CDC website there is a Workplace Violence Prevention for Nurses Course (CDC Course No. WB2908–NIOSH Pub. No. 2013-155). It’s free. It’s interactive. (here’s the link to attend:  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/violence/training_nurses.html) It’s designed to “help healthcare workers better understand the scope and nature of violence in the workplace.” And it hasn’t been updated since 2016 (last reviewed, 2017).

If you take the course, you will learn the definition, types, and prevalence of violence; workplace violence consequences; risk factors for type II and III violence; prevention strategies for organizations; prevention strategies for nurses; and a post event response.
… Read more about: What Is Workplace Violence Prevention?  »

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In: Activism, Home, Legislative Policy, Nurse Compact, Nurses, Politics, Unions, Volunteer

By Julie Anderson, RN

Governmental Affairs Commissioner

 

There is a lot at stake in the upcoming midterm elections. Like many other nurses, I was excited to find out that a fellow nurse and an inspiring leader, Erin Murphy, was running for governor. I thrusted myself into the campaign and volunteered with the Nurses for Erin campaign. I did phonebanks, door knocks, attended meetings, had face to face interactions, attended the DFL convention as a delegate, and, of course, I voted for Erin for Minnesota governor in the primaries. After the primary went the other way without Erin Murphy representing the DFL on the ballot, I suddenly found myself asking “what now?” I realized, though, that my work was far from over.
… Read more about: Newly Political Nurse Now Permanently Active  »