Right To Work: MNA Member Alert - Please Share! (Page 108)

Today Senator Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville), the author of the so-called “Right to Work” bill, took the unusual step of moving his bill from the Jobs Committee (where it had stalled and possibly didn’t have enough votes to pass) to the Judiciary Committee. As you know, “Right to Work” is a deceptive bill aimed at weakening unions and taking away workers’ voices in their worksites. It is unsafe, unnecessary and unfair:

  • Unsafe: This amendment puts public safety at risk by making it harder for nurses, firefighters, police officers to negotiate and advocate for things like better nurse staffing and shorter response times.
  • Unnecessary: This amendment is risky in these economic times. Our state has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and our manufacturing sector is the strongest sector of our economy. Forbes rated Minnesota as having the third best quality of life in the nation. Why would we risk lower wages, poorer benefits and possibly layoffs now, just as the economy recovering?
  • Unfair: This amendment tilts the balance even more toward corporations at a time when CEO pay has grown 364 times higher than what the average worker makes. Minnesota workers make our employers profitable and we have to stop this unfair and irresponsible corporate power grab that benefits only the 1%.
  • Unfair: This amendment allows cheaters to game the system at the expense of employees who work hard and play by the rules. It’s wrong that only some union members would pay dues when all workers would by law receive the benefits and representation of the union.
What You Can Do:
  • There will be a Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday, March 12, at 8:00 am inside Room 15 at the State Capitol, and we need to PACK THE ROOM with nurses!
  • Please contact your state senator today and let them know that nurses, patients and working families would be hurt by Right to Work.
  • MOBILE USERS: If you are viewing this page on your iPhone/iPad or Droid, download the MNA App right now – you can call/e-mail your local legislators right from the App!

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In: Activism, Labor Unions, Politics

Today Senator Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville), the author of the so-called “Right to Work” bill, took the unusual step of moving his bill from the Jobs Committee (where it had stalled and possibly didn’t have enough votes to pass) to the Judiciary Committee. As you know, “Right to Work” is a deceptive bill aimed at weakening unions and taking away workers’ voices in their worksites. It is unsafe, unnecessary and unfair:

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In: Activism, Politics

Last Friday you received an email notifying you about the hearing on the National Nurse Licensure Compact (SF230
… Read more about: Breaking News on Important Legislative Issue: National Nurse Licensure Compact  », also known as the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact) scheduled for today in the Minnesota Senate. We have gotten more specific information on the timing of the hearing: the Compact will be last on the agenda for the hearing, and we have been told by Health and Human Services Committee staff to expect the compact to come up sometime between 5:00 and 6:30 pm tonight. Schedules at the Legislature are very fluid and things may change, so we can’t give you an exact start time, but we believe that if you arrive by 6:00 pm you will be there in time to hear the discussion.

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MNA Nurses Day on the Hill

Nurses from every corner of the state came together on Monday and Tuesday to learn more about legislation at the Capitol that will affect nurses and patients, and to talk to their elected officials enacting policies based on nursing values. Nurses focused on:

  • The unfair, unsafe and unnecessary “Right to Work” legislation that will weaken unions and hurt nurses and patients.
  • Constitutional amendments that will write gridlock and budgeting gimmicks into Minnesota’s Constitution.
  • Threats to nursing practice like the National Nurse Licensure Compact and a proposal to create a redundant and punitive criminal background check specifically for nurses.

    • … Read more about: Legislative Update March 2, 2012  »

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Bemidji RN Sandra K. Nye wrote an amazing essay – published in her area newspaper – recently on safe staffing levels. Please take a few minutes to read and consider what Sandra points out:

There is an alarming pattern of increased adverse events occurring in hospitals throughout the U.S., which includes medication errors, unnecessary deaths, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections.

A direct relationship exists between the quality of nursing care and amount of time a Registered Nurse spends with each patient. These events are preventable by simply increasing RN numbers each shift. Nurses are the greatest defense for patient safety, so it is vital that safe RN staffing becomes a priority in hospital policy and budget.
… Read more about: RN Essay: The Numbers Don’t Lie – Safe Staffing Saves Lives  »

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MNA Legislative Update February 17, 2012

 

Right to Work
“Right to Work” constitutional amendments that would weaken unions and undermine workers’ rights have been introduced at the Capitol. These bills are unnecessary, unsafe and unfair. They will not create jobs and will not help our economy. They will make all of our families unsafe if professionals like nurses, firefighters and police officers have their voices silenced in the workplace. Minnesota has the third highest quality of life in the United States. We have a far lower rate of unemployment than the national average. States that already have Right to Work laws have lower qualities of life and higher unemployment than states with strong collective bargaining rights.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, Feb. 17, 2012  »

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, 651-414-2863

ST. PAUL (February 15, 2012) – As Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his State of the State speech Wednesday, the leader of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) echoed her organization’s support for the Governor’s top priorities – jobs, education and reform.

“What our friends, neighbors and patients do need are good-paying jobs, access to affordable healthcare and great education for our children,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton, RN, BSN. “What they don’t need is a slew of divisive constitutional amendments that do nothing to address the core needs of Minnesotans across the state.
… Read more about: MNA Statement on Gov. Dayton’s State of the State  »