Legislative Update, March 23, 2012 (Page 113)

MNA Legislative Update, March 23, 2012

Today is the second legislative deadline of the session, which means that bills that haven’t passed out of committee by today are effectively dead. March 30 is the third deadline, by which all finance and appropriation bills have to pass the committee process. Because this session’s deadlines are looming, action at the Capitol has been fast and frequent this week.

Right to Work

Since passing the Senate Judiciary Committee by one vote last week, the so-called Right to Work amendment has stalled. It is because of your efforts that attempts by Right to Work supporters to get the bill heard on the House and Senate floors both failed again this week. If no action is taken by the end of the day today, we can breathe a sigh of relief and be fairly certain Right to Work is dead for this session. Nurses, you deserve a lot of the credit for this victory. You made hundreds of phone calls, sent emails and visited your legislators to oppose this bill, and all your grassroots action has worked.

Criminal Felony Neglect of Vulnerable Adult

SF1586 which would make neglect of a vulnerable adult a felony, passed the Senate floor unanimously on Monday. MNA worked with the authors of the bill to address concerns that nurses and health care workers not be punished for staffing or policy decisions made by their managers and supervisors. MNA supported the final version of the bill. In the House, the bill is making its way through the committee process and we expect it to be up for a floor vote soon.

National Nurse Licensure Compact

The Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact, which MNA opposes, completed the committee process in the Senate and is likely to reach the Senate floor for a vote very soon. However, it has not yet moved in the House. The Governor vetoed this legislation last session, and has confirmed to MNA that he remains opposed to it this session.

Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill

House HHS Chair Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) has introduced a Health and Human Services Omnibus bill that includes language that will keep the Willmar Community Transitional Services open. The Willmar facility had been slated for closure since last session. MNA nurses at Willmar and our lobbyists have been working all session to find a solution to keep this much-needed facility open.

Criminal Background Check

In cooperation with our allies from the Minnesota CRNAs and privacy advocate groups we defeated the flawed Criminal Background Check bill. However, with the leadership of Rep. Jim Abeler, we worked with the Minnesota Board of Nursing and other licensed health care professionals to amend another bill containing criminal background checks. The original version would have placed unnecessary burdens on all health care workers.  While we fully support Criminal Background Checks as an important tool to protect patient safety, MNA does not believe that nurses and health care professionals should be subjected to a duplicative, costly and inaccurate system.

Safe Staffing

MNA’s Staffing for Patient Safety Act is still alive as of this writing, but if it does not meet this evening’s deadline, we are exploring other ways to accomplish the goal of maximum patient limits for nurses. Please stay tuned!

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In: Politics, Right to Work

MNA Legislative Update, March 23, 2012

Today is the second legislative deadline of the session, which means that bills that haven’t passed out of committee by today are effectively dead. March 30 is the third deadline, by which all finance and appropriation bills have to pass the committee process. Because this session’s deadlines are looming, action at the Capitol has been fast and frequent this week.

Right to Work

Since passing the Senate Judiciary Committee by one vote last week, the so-called Right to Work amendment has stalled. It is because of your efforts that attempts by Right to Work supporters to get the bill heard on the House and Senate floors both failed again this week.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, March 23, 2012  »

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In: Politics, Right to Work

Right to Work

The so-called “Right to Work” amendment was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. Over 1,600 union members turned out to watch the hearing and voice their opposition to this unfair, unsafe and unnecessary legislation. Capitol officials reported that this was the largest turnout for a committee hearing in state history.  Abbott Northwestern Hospital Nurse Ursula Tuttle testified before the committee. You can watch Ursula’s testimony here at the 8:35 mark.

After nearly four hours of testimony and debate committee passed the “Right to Work” amendment 7-6. In the end, one Republican joined five DFLers in opposing the amendment, with the other 7 Republicans voting for Right to Work.
… Read more about: Legislative Update March 16, 2012  »

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I could not have a stronger opinion about this issue.

I am an RN and I just returned to MN after working for 4 years in Texas -a “right to work” state.

I have never in my ENTIRE nursing career felt so powerless to protect my patients. We all worked grueling hours, had grossly inadequate numbers of staff, and absolutely no support network.

It was made clear by non-medical management that we were to do the job and not complain. The message was clear:” You are not valued as an employee and we don’t care about the patient’s welfare.
… Read more about: Real RNs Speak Out Against Right-to-Work: Michelle Donovan  »

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MNA RNs are weighing in about the devastating impact the so-called “Right to Work” legislation would have on everyday Minnesota families. Here’s just one of the heartfelt letters MNA RNs are sending to their local legislators:

 

I urge you Senator Vandeveer to vote No on the right to work issue.

I have been a RN for almost 20 years and have been supported by my union for as many years.  I also have family and friends who are nurses in southern states and I hear on a daily basis their horror stories.  Unrealistic patient work loads, no support staff, monthly turnover and constantly living under the threat of losing their license if something goes wrong. 
… Read more about: Real RNs Speak Out Against Right-to-Work: Selena Running  »

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“Right to Work” is Wrong for Minnesota!
·       Right to Work legislation is unnecessary: it doesn’t actually create any jobs. Minnesota’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average and lower than in Right to Work states. Nurses in Minnesota earn an average of $16,000 more than those in Right to Work states.
·       Right to Work is unfair. It would force dues paying union members to pay for the representation of coworkers that don’t pay anything.
·       Right to work is unsafe: Having a strong, collective voice allows nurses to advocate for safe staffing, safe patient care, and safe working conditions.
… Read more about: Call Your Senator Today to Oppose Right-to-Work  »

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MNA RNs are weighing in about the devastating impact the so-called “Right to Work” legislation would have on everyday Minnesota families. Here’s just one of the heartfelt letters MNA RNs are sending to their local legislators:

I am writing you to request that you vote “Nay” on the “Right to Work” legislative bill that is currently being reviewed by the Judiciary Committee.  Minnesota currently has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. If this bill passes, I can see multiple “layoffs” and firing of workers. This will impact our unemployment rate NEGATIVELY at a time when the GOP is concerned about “jobs, jobs and jobs.”

As a nurse, I can also foresee this bill endangering public safety because it will make it harder for us to advocate for things like better nurse staffing and shorter response times by public servants (like police and firefighters).
… Read more about: Real RNs Speak Out Against Right to Work: Carolyn Jorgenson  »

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In: Activism, Labor Unions, Politics

MNA RNs are weighing in about the devastating impact the so-called “Right to Work” legislation would have on everyday Minnesota families. Here’s just one of the heartfelt letters MNA RNs are sending to their local legislators:

I have always enjoyed being in a state that does not penalize workers to make the corporations wealthier. Over the last 20 years our wages have been stagnant while the CEOs and corporations sit on more and more money. Right to Work legislation puts us in the same camp as Mississippi and I for one am appalled. Children in right to work states have higher poverty.
… Read more about: Real RNs Speak Out Against Right To Work: Kathy Westlie  »

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In: Activism, Labor Unions, Politics

MNA RNs are weighing in about the devastating impact the so-called “Right to Work” legislation would have on everyday Minnesota families. Here’s just one of the heartfelt letters MNA RNs are sending to their local legislators:

I am writing in opposition to the right to work bill. I would like my voice heard! This bill is totally unnecessary, unfair and furthermost UNSAFE. I am an RN, this amendment would put my patients at risk because it would make it much harder to negotiate and advocate for things like safe staffing.

This amendment will take the power from the workers and put more power into the hands of the CEO’s.
… Read more about: Real RNs Speak Out: Marcia Whitman  »