FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurie Laker
(c) 612-741-0662
laurie.laker@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – January 24, 2025 – On January 23, an overwhelming majority of Registered Nurses (RNs) at North Memorial’s Maple Grove Hospital voted to join the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). With nearly 600 nurses in the bargaining unit, this landmark decision reflects a growing movement among healthcare professionals to strengthen their collective voice and advocate for better working conditions, fair compensation, and enhanced patient care.
Nurses at Maple Grove Hospital came together to seek union representation as a clear demonstration of their commitment to enhancing their workplace, standing in solidarity with one another, and ensuring top-quality care for their patients. For years, these nurses have delivered exceptional care despite facing significant obstacles, including overwhelming workloads and limited resources. Attempts to work collaboratively with hospital leadership repeatedly failed to address serious concerns, leading nurses to take this decisive step to necessary to have a voice in the changes needed to support both the patients they serve and their profession.
“This is a monumental moment for all of us,” said Emily Campbell, an RN at Maple Grove Hospital. “By joining MNA, we’ve shown our commitment to standing together for the betterment of our workplace and the patients we serve. This decision is about having a seat at the table to make our voices heard and ensure our concerns are addressed.”
The nurses’ vote signals a pivotal shift toward greater advocacy and equity in healthcare workplaces across Minnesota. Across the North Memorial system, the Maple Grove nurses now join their nurse colleagues at sister facility Robbinsdale Hospital in achieving union representation. Now, finally, they are truly “One North.” Following their successful election, Maple Grove nurses look forward to addressing long-standing concerns, such as fair wages, sustainable workloads, and safe staffing levels, while working to foster an environment where nurses and patients alike can thrive.
“Our patients deserve the best care we can provide, and being part of a union empowers us to secure the tools and resources we need to deliver that care,” said LeAnn Adrian, an RN at Maple Grove. “This isn’t just about us as nurses—it’s about improving care for the entire community.”
The unionization effort represents a significant step forward in collective action for healthcare workers in Minnesota, adding strength to a growing movement of nurses – MNA has supported new organizing for over 1,400 nurses in the last year alone – committed to securing a fairer, more sustainable future for themselves and their patients.
###