Duluth Nurses to Conduct Info Picketing July 12 (Page 123)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863 or e-mail

DULUTH, Minn. (July 6, 2010) – More than 1,300 Duluth Nurses will conduct informational picketing from 12:00-5:00 p.m. on July 12th outside SMDC Medical Center to call attention to unsafe staffing levels.

“Here at St. Mary’s and Miller Dwan (SMDC), we currently have more than 800 open nursing shifts over a four-week period from mid-June to mid-July,” said Steve Strand, RN. “The hospital is literally begging nurses to work double shifts and overtime to try and fill all these gaps. But if you or your loved one is a patient, do you want an overworked, stressed-out nurse at the end of a 16- or 20-hour shift taking care of you during a critical situation? Of course you don’t. Unsafe staffing isn’t just a nurse issue. It’s a public safety issue.”

More than 1,300 Duluth nurses at SMDC and St. Luke’s Hospital are in the midst of negotiations with hospital management regarding a new labor agreement. Their current contract expired on July 1, and six weeks of bargaining has yielded little progress at both facilities.

“As with any set of contract negotiations, there are economic issues involved, but far and away the most pressing issue is what to do about these unsafe staffing conditions,” said Kristi Hendrickson, an RN at St. Luke’s Hospital. “On our West Side units, sometimes we have one nurse trying to care for 9 to 13 patients. When you consider what goes into caring for each individual patient, you begin to realize just how dangerous these types of situations are. And it’s not like our hospitals can just close their doors and go on ‘Divert’ status in the Emergency Room. There isn’t anywhere else for our patients in the Northland to go when a medical emergency strikes.”

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In: Duluth Bargaining

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863 or e-mail

DULUTH, Minn. (July 6, 2010) – More than 1,300 Duluth Nurses will conduct informational picketing from 12:00-5:00 p.m. on July 12th outside SMDC Medical Center to call attention to unsafe staffing levels.

“Here at St. Mary’s and Miller Dwan (SMDC), we currently have more than 800 open nursing shifts over a four-week period from mid-June to mid-July,” said Steve Strand, RN. “The hospital is literally begging nurses to work double shifts and overtime to try and fill all these gaps.
… Read more about: Duluth Nurses to Conduct Info Picketing July 12  »

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In: Bargaining

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863 or e-mail

MNA Nurses Ratify Contract Agreement with Twin Cities Hospitals

ST. PAUL (July 6, 2010) – Demonstrating the incredible solidarity that was the hallmark of their lengthy campaign, Twin Cities nurses voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ratify a new contract with 14 area hospitals.

“It’s been a long three-plus months, but the nurses I’m talking to tonight have a healthy mixture of relief and resolve,” said Cindy Olson, an RN at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood and a member of the Minnesota Nurses Association bargaining team. “Relief that we finally have a contract in front of us that we could ratify, and resolve to make sure we finish the job when it comes to attaining the safe staffing levels our patients and our profession deserve.”

Nurses spent the day voting at two different locations – one in Minneapolis and one in St.
… Read more about: It’s Official: Twin Cities RNs Ratify Contract  »

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To whom it may concern,

I have been saddened by your biased coverage of this entire journey with the nurses and hospitals. I am a nurse of 15 years and appalled by your choice of front page articles related to this event. Giving out Nurses income numbers(that were totally inaccurate), to talking to “so called nurses” that do not back the strike and were going to cross the picket line, just to name a few. Where are the articles that have the hospital administrators incomes and bonuses, or where is the story about doctors and hospital members that do not support what the hospitals are doing and back the nurses.
… Read more about: The Star Tribune’s Coverage: An MNA RN Shares Her Thoughts  »

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Just came across an interesting read from MedCity News on the financial missteps several Twin Cities Hospitals took during the recession of 2008-09 – specifically in terms of trying to expand too fast, borrowing big money and gambling (and losing) in the stock market. Not exactly the picture of financial restraint and prudence one might expect from non-profit entities charged with ensuring their customers’ health and well-being comes first and foremost. What do you think? (Click here to read the story.)
… Read more about: Twin Cities Hospitals & The Great Recession: Fiscal Restraint Goes AWOL  »

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In: Bargaining, Nurses Strike

NOTE: The post below was sent by the spouse of an MNA RN to the Star Tribune as a letter to the editor.

“Do justice.”

These words from Isaiah keep coming to me as I read your joint article in in today’s Star Tribune.

Do you feel your coverage has done justice to both sides?

Sadly, I don’t.  I freely admit, as the spouse of a 30 plus year MNA nurse, I have a side.  I proudly walked the picket line with her last month.  Which side are you on?  
… Read more about: Star Tribune: Do Justice  »