Labor History on Display! (Page 109)

In celebration of labor history month, the Untold Stories series presents programs and talks on both local and national labor history topics.

Untold Stories is coordinated by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and all events are free and open to the public.

For a complete listing of Untold Stories events please click here.

Upcoming Untold Stories events include:

David Bacon: Illegal People
Thursday, April 12, 7 pm
Macalester College, Weyerhaeuser Chapel, 1600 Grand Avenue

Writer and photojournalist David Bacon returns to the Untold Stories series with a talk on his new book Illegal People: How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants. Bacon is also the author of Children of NAFTA and the photo-documentary project Communities Without Borders.

Ricardo Dominguez
Tuesday, April 17, 5 pm
University of Minnesota, Regis Center for Art (East), Influx Room, 405 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis

The 18th annual David Noble Lecture, presented by the American Studies Department, features Professor Ricardo Dominguez, co-founder of the Electronic Disturbance Theater (EDT). He is co-Director of Thing (thing.net) an ISP for artists and activists, and an Associate Professor at University of California San Diego in the Visual Arts Department.

Woody Guthrie at 100
Thursday, April 19, 7 pm
St. Paul Labor Centre, 411 Main Street

Celebrate the centennial of Woody Guthrie’s birth with a program featuring folk singer Darryl Holter, a former labor education director for the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and labor educator at UCLA, who has developed a “Woody Guthrie in Los Angeles” presentation/performance, and renowned Twin Cities labor troubadour Larry Long, who has applied and extended Woody Guthrie’s aesthetics and energies for the past four decades.

On:
In: Activism, Labor Unions

In celebration of labor history month, the Untold Stories series presents programs and talks on both local and national labor history topics.

Untold Stories is coordinated by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and all events are free and open to the public.

For a complete listing of Untold Stories events please click here.

Upcoming Untold Stories events include:

David Bacon: Illegal People
Thursday, April 12, 7 pm
Macalester College, Weyerhaeuser Chapel, 1600 Grand Avenue

Writer and photojournalist David Bacon returns to the Untold Stories series with a talk on his new book Illegal People: How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants.
… Read more about: Labor History on Display!  »

On:
In: Uncategorized

MNA member Mary Kirsling wrote to her representative about her opposition to National Nurse Licensure.  Here’s why it is important to be alert and involved – we get results that mean the world to our patients!

A Note from Mary Kirsling:  “It is gratifying to have one’s representatives read and respond. And if anyone thinks that these emails lack power, I think the responses tell otherwise…

On Mon, 4/2/12, Kerry Gauthier <rep.kerry.gauthier@house.mn> wrote:

From: Kerry Gauthier <rep.kerry.gauthier@house.mn>
Subject: Re: national nurse licensure
Date: Monday, April 2, 2012, 9:50 AM

Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to Minnesota’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which was proposed in 2011 with the introduction of House File 462.
… Read more about: MNA RN Voices Make a Difference on Nurse Licensure Compact  »

On:
In: Uncategorized

Note:  The Legislature is tentatively planning to adjourn today (April 5)  for a short spring recess

HMO Accountability
Great news! The four Healthcare Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) have returned $73 million dollars in excess profits to the taxpayers. Nurses played an integral part in holding HMOs accountable and advocating for further transparency. Please follow the link below to find out more information.

http://mnablog.com/2012/04/03/mna-rns-have-helped-lead-charge-in-holding-hmos-accountable/

National Nurse Licensure Compact
In addition to being part of the Senate HHS Omnibus bill, the National Nurse Licensure Compact is moving as stand-alone bills in the Senate and House (SF230-Gerlach/HF462-Norton).
… Read more about: Legislative Update, April 5, 2012  »

On:
In: Activism, Politics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863 or john.nemo@mnnurses.org

WILLMAR, Minnesota (April 3, 2012) – In an effort to clear up confusion surrounding the status of the Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment facility, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced today that a pair of legislative bills it helped introduce appear likely to extend the closure date of the facility by another year.

MNA, which represents more than 20,000 nurses in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, including RNs at the Willmar facility, has been working closely with AFSCME Council 5, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and local legislators Rep.
… Read more about: Press Release: MNA RNs fight to keep Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment Facility open  »

On:
In: Activism, Politics

Good to hear this news today, because Minnesota Nurses have played a key role for more than a year in demanding these HMOs be held accountable! Here’s the press release from the Governor’s Office:

Dayton Healthcare Reform Saves Millions for Taxpayers

$73 million returned to taxpayers as a result of nation leading efficiency and value in healthcare reform

Saint Paul, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced $73 million in health care cost savings to state and federal taxpayers, thanks to the voluntary 1% cap on profits agreed to last year between Commissioner of Human Services Lucinda Jesson, HealthPartners, Medica, UCare, and BlueCross BlueShield.  
… Read more about: MNA RNs Have Helped Lead Charge in Holding HMOs Accountable  »

On:
In: Activism, Politics

MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like those below in voicing your opposition to the bill:

“I am writing in regards to the National Nurse Licensure Compact. I strongly oppose this piece of legislation. It compromises not only the state’s ability to protect patients from unsafe situations but also my own. I take pride in the work I perform everyday, as I’m sure you do as well, and it saddens me to know that this could be jeopardized by the government who knows very little about what goes on at the bedside.  
… Read more about: More MNA RNs speak out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

On:
In: Activism, Politics

MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like Laura Miller in voicing your opposition to the bill:

The National Nurse Licensure Compact which is included in the Senate Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill would be a detriment to the nurses and population in the State of Minnesota.  Our nurses as well as the Minnesota Board of Nursing are held to a higher standard than many other states. 
… Read more about: MNA RN Laura Miller speaks out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

On:
In: Activism, Politics

MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like Lynn Hagen in voicing your opposition to the bill:

I have been an RN for over 30 years and have seen many changes within our heathcare system. We have seen changes in how our health care is driven, how the care is delivered and the reimbursement that drives it all. And although I need to be fiscally smart in how I staff my unit and meet the needs of my patients this bill completely ties my hands in many areas.
… Read more about: MNA RN Lynn Hagen speaks out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

On:
In: Activism, Politics

MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like Sandra Johnson in voicing your opposition to the bill:

Please consider the safety of all patient’s before you vote on this bill.  I am a registered nurse in Minnesota and have experienced patient care in other states such as Texas and Chicago.  My parents are snowbirds in Texas and have several health issues which require frequent hospitalization.
… Read more about: MNA RN Sandra Johnson speaks out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

On:
In: Uncategorized

Right to Work

There was no action on Right to Work this week. Our friends in both parties and both legislative bodies have taken a stand on behalf of working families. To all of you who wrote, called and visited your elected officials, thank you. The outpouring of grassroots activism from nurses, union members and concerned citizens was like nothing we’ve seen in recent years, and deserves a lot of the credit for stopping this bill.

Health and Human Services Omnibus Bills

On Tuesday, HHS Chair David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) introduced the Senate HHS Omnibus bill, which includes the National Nurse Licensure language, aka Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, March 30, 2012  »