Nurses at CHI St. Alexius hospital in Bismarck to hold informational picket

Nurses take action as hospital management refuses to address safe patient care and nurse retention during contract negotiations

(Bismarck) – November 9, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association have filed an intent to picket on Tuesday, November 14, outside CHI St. Alexius hospital in Bismarck, N.D. Nurses are speaking out because negotiations with hospital management have been unproductive when it comes to the issues nurses are most concerned about.

“Since bargaining began in July, CHI St. Alexius has been unwilling or unable to answer nurses’ questions about current staffing and wages,” said Lacye Knudsen, RN at CHI St. Alexius. “It’s time that they worked with us to quickly address the nurse retention crisis at our hospital that affects patient safety on a daily basis.”

Nurses are demanding nurse-to-patient ratios so that they can provide the safest possible care for patients in the Bismarck community. They also proposed steps for addressing the nurse retention issues, including access to paid family leave. Instead of responding seriously to these demands, hospital executives have refused to address staffing and countered with a wage proposal that includes a wage cut when adjusted for inflation.

Nurses know that retaining the experienced and compassionate nurses who live in the Bismarck community will save the hospital much more money than what it would cost to provide fair wages and implement the nurses’ proposals. The estimated cost of replacing a nurse who has left the bedside at St. Alexius Bismarck is $52,000. In addition, the hospital spent $17M on travel nurses in 2021 alone.

Tuesday’s informational picket is not a work stoppage; nurses will not be walking off the job to participate in the picket, and hospital operations will not be affected by the action.

DETAILS: CHI ST. ALEXIUS NURSES INFORMATIONAL PICKET

When: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Where: CHI St. Alexius Medical Center, 900 Broadway Ave, Bismarck, ND, on public property along E Broadway Ave., between and on the corners of 9th St and E Rosser Ave.

Who: CHI St. Alexius nurses bargaining for a fair contract and safe staffing

What: Informational picket to encourage the public to stand with nurses

Why: To call on CHI St. Alexius to listen to nurses’ concerns and bargain in good faith

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