NOTES ON NURSING
MNA at the 2013 Staff Nurse Assembly Minnesota nurses made up one of the biggest collections of delegates at the annual National Nurses United conference in San Francisco.
Global Nurses United of Nurse, Healthcare Unions, Born Leaders of the premiere nurses and health care workers unions in 14 nations in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe have announced plans to form a new international organization to step up the fight against the harmful effects of austerity measures, privatization, and cuts in health care services that they say are putting people and communities at risk across the planet.
HEALTH CARE NEWS
Government Imposes $4M Fine on Kaiser for Limiting Patient Access to Mental Health Care “This action confirms what every Kaiser clinician knows,” said Dr. Andris Skuja, PhD, a psychologist at Kaiser Oakland. “Kaiser doesn’t take mental health care for its patients seriously. Our patients have serious needs. The last thing they need is for their care to be illegally curtailed by an HMO that’s already making billions in profits, just so Kaiser can make a few more pennies on the dollar at patients’ expense.”
McKesson CEO’s Pension Reported at a Record $159M “Compensation consultants say it’s by far the largest pension on file for a current executive of a public company, and almost certainly the largest ever in corporate America.”
Sen. Grassley: “Who Approved These Hospital CEO Bonuses?” The Iowa Republican was responding to a report by Kaiser Health News and ABC News that showed CEOs reaping bonuses for profit, revenue and other financial goalseven as policymakers talk about the need to promote efficiency instead of volume.
LABOR UPDATES
Striking Shakopee Laborers Step Up Pressure with Ad Campaign Union workers at Cretex Companies are stepping up pressure for a fair contract by airing ads on three Twin Cities radio stations. Members of Laborers Local 563 went on strike June 19, pledging to walk the picket line until Cretex abandons its attempt to strip workers of their pension benefits.