Nurses at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center reach tentative contract agreement with management (Page 16)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses have called off their planned picket, and will not file unfair labor practice charges against Sanford Health pending contract ratification by members     

(Bemidji) – March 9, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center today announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with Sanford Health on a new three-year contract. Nurses have called off the informational picket they had planned for Monday, March 13, 2023, and will not file unfair labor practice charges against Sanford Health pending contract ratification by nurses.

The tentative agreement won by nurses successfully fought off concessions which had been sought by Sanford Health and includes fair pay increases, better accrual of paid time off, and stronger language to protect the union and nurses’ contract in case of a change in ownership; this latter clause is especially important as Sanford Health continues to pursue merger with M Health Fairview. Together, the language won by nurses in the new tentative agreement will help to help retain nurses and protect patient care at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.

A ratification vote on the tentative agreement will be scheduled in the coming days. Nurse negotiation team members are recommending members vote yes to approve the new three-year contract.

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On:
In: Home, Informational Picket, Press Releases, Sanford

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses have called off their planned picket, and will not file unfair labor practice charges against Sanford Health pending contract ratification by members     

(Bemidji) – March 9, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center today announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with Sanford Health on a new three-year contract. Nurses have called off the informational picket they had planned for Monday, March 13, 2023, and will not file unfair labor practice charges against Sanford Health pending contract ratification by nurses.
… Read more about: Nurses at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center reach tentative contract agreement with management  »

On:
In: Fairview, Sanford

This blog is an excerpt from a Letter to the Editor written by four MNA nurses and published in the Worthington Globe newspaper. MNA members across Minnesota are speaking out in opposition to the proposed Sanford/Fairview merger.

To the Editor:

The recent delay of the Sanford/Fairview merger and letter from Sanford Worthington CEO Jennifer Weg prompted us, a group of retired Sanford Worthington nurses, to write.  Some of us were at the Jan. 25 meeting held in Worthington, hosted by the Minnesota Attorney General’s office.

While we agree with the numerous Sanford Worthington managers and others who enthusiastically praised Sanford’s contribution to the community, we, as former employees, are perplexed by the lack of attention given to Sanford Worthington hospital itself.
… Read more about: Don’t overlook needs of Sanford Worthington Hospital  »

On:
In: Fairview, Home, Press Releases, Sanford

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – March 7, 2022 – At 5:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, healthcare workers, patients, and University of Minnesota medical students will hold a media availability to speak out against the proposed merger of M Health Fairview and Sanford Health. The media availability will take place ahead of a 6:00 p.m. Minnesota Senate hearing on the proposed merger.

Since the proposed merger was announced late last year, Minnesotans who work and receive care at potentially impacted facilities have raised concerns that this merger could increase costs and limit access to health services for patients, threaten jobs and working conditions for workers, and consolidate even more corporate control over our healthcare system.
… Read more about: Workers, patients, students to hold media availability ahead of Senate hearing on proposed Sanford-Fairview merger  »

On:
In: Informational Picket, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Among nurse demands is language to ensure union protections and agreements remain in place in the case of a merger like the one being sought between Sanford and M Health Fairview

(Bemidji) – March 6, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center today announced their intent to picket on Monday, March 13, 2023, as negotiations continue over a new three-year contract. Nurses are seeking a fair contract to help retain nurses in the community to protect patient care at the hospital.
… Read more about: Nurses at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center to picket in fight for fair contract to retain nurses, protect patient care  »

On:
In: Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Meeting will highlight ways to build community partnerships to fight against corporate healthcare and advocate for a safe and fair healthcare system for all

(Duluth) – March 6, 2023 – At 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association will join medical students from the University of Minnesota Duluth and community members for a forum on the future of our healthcare system in Duluth and across Minnesota.
… Read more about: Nurses, medical students, community to hold forum on the future of our healthcare system  »

On:
In: Home, Legislative Policy, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – March 3, 2023 – On Monday, March 6, 2023, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association will share the results of a new survey analyzing why more than 2,400 MNA nurses left bedside care positions last year. In addition to the results of the survey, based on responses from nearly 500 nurses, nurses will also share their own stories about why they left bedside care.

The new report – “Why We Left: 2023 Nursing Workforce Report” – follows a similar survey conducted and published last year by MNA.
… Read more about: Minnesota nurses to release new report on nurse workforce departures, hold roundtable discussion  »

On:
In: Fairview, Home, Press Releases, Sanford

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

New study from MNA includes review of service closures by Sanford following past hospital takeovers  
(St. Paul) – February 21, 2023 – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today released a new report
… Read more about: New report highlights dangerous consequences of corporate healthcare mergers, concerning record of Sanford and Fairview        » on the proposed merger of Sanford Health and M Health Fairview into a massive new healthcare chain. The 24-page report includes a review of scholarly studies on the effects of healthcare mergers on patients, workers and communities, as well as a review of the corporate policies pushed by hospital executives at Sanford and Fairview, including closures of facilities and units with their focus on the bottom line.

On:
In: Action, Home, Keeping Nurses at the Bedside, Legislative Policy, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – February 14, 2023 – Tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will hold their annual Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol, calling on legislators to take action on bills to keep nurses at the bedside and protect the interests of patients, nurses and other workers in Minnesota.

This year’s Day on the Hill, the first nurses have held in-person since 2019, comes after the Minnesota Senate and House introduced the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act earlier this week.
… Read more about: Nurses to hold Day on the Hill, call for action to keep nurses at the bedside, protect patients, workers   »

On:
In: Erin Murphy, Home, Hospitals, Keeping Nurses at the Bedside, Legislative Policy, Press Releases, Unsafe Staffing, Workplace violence prevention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org
More than half of nurses are considering leaving the bedside, citing understaffing as a top concern
Legislation aims to retain nurses, protect safe patient care and hold hospital CEOs accountable

WATCH: Watch video of this morning’s news conference

(St. Paul) – February 13, 2023 – Minnesota nurses today joined bipartisan state legislators to introduce the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act (SF1561), a bill to solve the crisis of short-staffing, retention, and patient care in Minnesota hospitals.
… Read more about: Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act will solve retention and care crisis in Minnesota hospitals       »

On:
In: Home, Keeping Nurses at the Bedside, Legislative Policy, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org
… Read more about: Nurses, bipartisan legislators to announce legislation to combat crisis of nurse retention, patient care   »

(St. Paul) – February 10, 2023 – At 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, Minnesota nurses will join legislators to announce bipartisan legislation to address the crisis of under-staffing, retention and care in our hospitals, which is driving nurses out of the profession and impacting patient care at the bedside. Nurses will join the chief authors of the bill, Sen. Assistant Majority Leader Erin Murphy (64, DFL) and Rep. Sandra Feist (39B, DFL), as well as co-author Sen. Jim Abeler (35, R), to announce the legislation.