2010 HealthEast Bargaining Update (Page 141)

Today marked the opening day of negotiations between HealthEast and its nurses. Here you’ll find:

Make sure to check back here on the MNA Blog and on MNA’s Web site for the latest news and updates!

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In: Bargaining, Hospitals, Labor Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12,000 MN Nurses Begin Labor Contract Negotiations

Key issues include pension, staffing levels as talks between nurses and Twin Cities hospital systems begin.

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

ST. PAUL (March 16, 2010) – Saying their 12,000 members are committed to standing united in the coming months, Minnesota nurses formally began labor contract negotiations with six Twin Cities hospital systems on Tuesday.

“The safety and quality of care for our patients is on the line,” said Minnesota Nurses Association President Linda Hamilton, who works as a registered nurse in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.
… Read more about: 2010 Bargaining Officially Begins!  »

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Today marks the official start to formal employment contract negotiations between 12,000 Minnesota Nurses and six Twin Cities hospital systems. Below is an overview of the key issues and some facts and statistics.

ISSUE SUMMARY

  • More than 12,000 Minnesota Nurses formally began labor contract negotiations with six Twin Cities hospital systems (North Memorial, HealthEast, Allina, Methodist, Children’s and Fairview) on March 16, 2010.
  • Key issues during the negotiations include nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and the hospitals’ desire to slash the nurses’ long-standing pension plan benefits by one-third.

KEY DATES

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In: Politics

AUDIO: Thissen vs. Emmer

This is one audio clip (see link above) not to miss! MNA-endorsed Gov. Candidate Paul Thissen took fellow candidate Tom Emmer to the proverbial woodshed the other day on Minnesota Public Radio. Thissen called Emmer out for using popular political buzzwords and rhetoric without explaining how any of those ideas would actually get accomplished. Now you can see why more than 20,000 Minnesota Nurses endorse Paul Thissen for Governor!
… Read more about: Paul Thissen torches Tom Emmer on MPR  »

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In: Bargaining, Hospitals, Labor Unions

All About the Money
The Employers overarching principle is this: They want to cut your pension.

Some Effects of Employers Pension proposals:
— You will earn a lower pension benefit for any work after 1-1-2011….GUARANTEED

— You will only earn credits to your pension benefit if you work in a .5 or greater position.

— Pension benefits will be cut for every nurse whether you take a normal retirement, early retirement, or disability retirement.

All proposals have been shared. We will be meeting with the Federal Mediator for the next bargaining session on March 17th, 2010.
… Read more about: Pension Bargaining – March 10 Update  »

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In: Bargaining, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Organizing

Employers Propose Major Reductions
Our pension plan is the envy of registered nurses around the country. It is a benefit that we negotiated years ago and have worked hard to protect. Many of us have worked for years in our hospitals, providing quality patient care every day, and deserve a pension that will allow us to retire when we are ready.

Pension bargaining with our employers got under way on Friday, March 5. We proposed moderate improvements to our pension. Our employers, on the other hand, proposed three major reductions in pension benefits.

Our Proposals

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Politics

Media Contact: Liz Doyle (612-483-5854) or lizd@takeactionminnesota.org

Statement of the Save GAMC Coalition on House override vote

Members of the Minnesota House today had the opportunity to hold to their vote in support of the men and women on General Assistance Medical Care and override the Governor’s Veto. Thirty eight  Republican House members who voted in support of this legislation last week have now changed their minds and voted against health coverage for the poorest Minnesotans. The Administration is already beginning to un-enroll people on GAMC and transition them into MinnesotaCare, a program that is more costly than the DFL plan and simply will not work for those currently on GAMC.
… Read more about: Press Release: Save GAMC Coalition Statement on today’s House override attempt  »