Newly-Announced Agreement Sets Standard for Sutter/Allina Leadership to Come to the Table to Negotiate
This morning, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced an oversight agreement with Sanford Health and North Memorial Health. This agreement includes a 10-year commitment to maintain all services at the Robbinsdale Hospital, honoring existing labor union contracts, and significant financial investments at both Robbinsdale and Maple Grove Hospitals.
For the past several months, a coalition of organizations has advocated for a community benefits agreement to protect patients, healthcare workers, and Minnesota’s healthcare system amid corporate healthcare consolidation and massive federal cuts to healthcare funding. Rev. JaNae Bates Imari, co-director of ISAIAH, represented the coalition at the Attorney General’s press conference this morning outside the Robbinsdale hospital, alongside the CEOs of Sanford and North Memorial.
The coalition includes:
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 65 (AFSCME Council 65)
- Black Church Power Project
- Doctors Council SEIU
- Health Care for All Minnesota
- International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local 167 (IAEP Local 167)
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 (IUOE Local 49)
- ISAIAH
- Minnesota American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
- Minnesota 50501
- Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)
- Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA)
- New Justice Project
- Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
- SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa
- Step Up For Democracy
- TakeAction Minnesota
- UNITE HERE Local 17
This coalition issued the following statement regarding today’s news:
“Today marks an important victory and milestone for Minnesotans across the state. When the acquisition between Sanford Health and North Memorial was first announced, our coalition had real concerns, particularly about the workers and the future of North Memorial Hospital here in Robbinsdale. North Memorial Robbinsdale Hospital is a critical healthcare hub in the metro and in our Minnesota’s healthcare system. Minnesotans from all walks of life depend on it for critical operations, mental health services, and preventative care.
“Too often, hospital mergers result in service cuts, facility closures, and staffing layoffs, which ultimately lead to patients facing even higher medical bills or losing access to care altogether. This commitment also comes at a time when Minnesotans’ healthcare is under significant threat as massive healthcare funding cuts made by federal elected officials through HR1 begin to take effect next year.
“Throughout the community engagement process and a meeting with Sanford and North Memorial executives earlier this week, our coalition and the hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans we represent pushed for a 10-year commitment to all Robbinsdale services, honoring existing labor contracts, making the agreement public and enforceable, and more. We are thankful for Attorney General Keith Ellison who led a rigorous and thoughtful process to reach an agreement that all parties can celebrate. We are also thankful for Trevor Sawallish and Bill Gassen, CEOs of North Memorial Health and Sanford Health, for understanding their roles and responsibility to truly engage and be accountable to the voices and needs of the community in this process.
“But this win didn’t happen on its own. It happened because Minnesotans showed up. Community members, faith leaders, and union members made their voices heard at forums. People signed and circulated petitions. People shared deeply personal stories about what Robbinsdale Hospital has meant to them and their loved ones. Minnesotans showed up, and the Attorney General’s Office listened. Hospital leaders came to the table to put together an agreement on paper that will benefit and protect Minnesotan communities and healthcare workers for years to come.
“While Minnesotans celebrate this moment, this is one of two hospital acquisitions underway in Minnesota. Allina Health and Sutter Health are also pursuing a merger. So far, those leaders have failed to meet with our coalition to negotiate an agreement that seriously and formally commits to the needs and concerns of patients and healthcare workers. What happened today at North Memorial Hospital sets a standard of what a situation can and should look like when all parties work together to benefit the lives of Minnesotans. We hope leadership at Allina and Sutter will join us in this call.”
###
