MNA Legislative Preview-2013 session starts tomorrow! (Page 88)

MNA Legislative Preview

Session Begins January 8
The 2013 Minnesota legislative session starts on Tuesday, January 8. With new DFL majorities in the House and Senate, the political climate at the Capitol will be very different than the past two years, and will offer some new opportunities for nurses to work on policy priorities, as well as some new challenges.

In the 2012 election, DFLers won back majorities in both the Minnesota House and Senate. Senate Majority Leader-elect Tom Bakk of Cook and House Speaker-elect Paul Thissen of Minneapolis have stated their top priorities for the 2013 session will be responsibly balancing our state budget, strengthening our education system and creating good jobs .

Nursing Policy Priorities
During the 2013 session, nurses will advocate for proactive policies that will protect and advance the profession of nursing, promote patient safety and increase access to health care. MNA supports:

  • a state budget that increases our ability to provide adequate and safe care to patients and strengthens the middle class;
  • securing maximum patient assignment limits for Registered Nurses;
  • affordable, high-quality health care for all;
  • restructuring the State Operated Services system to better serve patients and workers.

Advocate for Your Patients and Your ProfessionP1030876
To be an active and effective nurse-lobbyist, it’s important for you to build a relationship with your legislators, and let them know they have a resource on nursing issues in their district. To find and contact your legislators, use the MNA Grassroots Action Center.

Dozens of new legislators were elected in 2012, and will need education on nursing issues. This week, send a friendly message introducing yourself to your legislators. Let them know you’ll be in touch throughout the session to share your stories and provide information about important nursing issues.

Attend Nurses Day on the Hill: February 4-5
Nurses Day on the Hill is a great opportunity to get to know your legislators and learn more about policies affecting nurses, patients and working families. We’ll make appointments for you with your legislators and provide you the tools to advocate for policies that advance nursing values. Sign up today to reserve your space and so we can make legislator appointments for you.

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In: Uncategorized

MNA Legislative Preview

Session Begins January 8
The 2013 Minnesota legislative session starts on Tuesday, January 8. With new DFL majorities in the House and Senate, the political climate at the Capitol will be very different than the past two years, and will offer some new opportunities for nurses to work on policy priorities, as well as some new challenges.

In the 2012 election, DFLers won back majorities in both the Minnesota House and Senate. Senate Majority Leader-elect Tom Bakk of Cook and House Speaker-elect Paul Thissen of Minneapolis have stated their top priorities for the 2013 session will be responsibly balancing our state budget, strengthening our education system and creating good jobs .
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Preview-2013 session starts tomorrow!  »

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In: Hospitals, Labor Unions, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses

Jodi Jones Wins Arbitration AwardJodi Jones, a state psychiatric nurse with 25 years of experience, has won her arbitration case with the  Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota, including re-instatement of former rank, position, and back pay.  In addition, disciplinary proceedings will also be removed from her personnel record.

Jones was terminated for an alleged error in theraputic judgment.  Later, her employer changed the reason to a different reason.

For her judgment and care, Jones was disciplined and let go, but the arbitrator sustained the grievance in every particular on all points and particulars.  He even took issue with the state’s case and noted it had failed its burden by “a wide margin.”

“If we didn’t have a (nurses) union,” Jones said, “I would have no chance of getting my job back. 
… Read more about: MNA wins job and back pay for St. Peter Nurse  »

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In: Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Minnesota Nurses Association, National Nurses United, Nurses, Nurses Strike, Nursing

NOTES ON NURSING

Twin Cities Nurses Ratify Contract   Although negotiations between nurses and hospitals in 2010 featured a loud
public debate over nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, the parties didn’t debate
the issue this time.

HEALTH CARE

In Their Own Words:  Health Care Industry Leader:  “Hospital Care 3,000 Times Less Safe Than Air Travel”    “The  Harvard Medical Practice Study (of 1991) showed that 1% of hospital patients  were injured due to errors judged… to be negligent. That’s a death or injury  rate of 10,000 per million. The U.S. airline comparative number is 341 people  dead or injured in 95.2 million flights, U.S.
… Read more about: MNA NewsScan, December 21, 2012: TC nurses approve 3 yr contract; Hospital care 3k less safe than air travel  »

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In: Bargaining, Labor Unions, Minnesota Nurses Association, National Nurses United, Nurses, Nursing

Twin Cities Nurses Ratify Three-Year Contract

For Immediate Release: December 20, 2012

Contact: Rick Fuentes: 651-414-2863/cell: 612-741-0662
Jan Rabbers: 651-414-2861/cell: 612-860-6658

(St. Paul) – Twin Cities nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association ratified its contract today with health care systems represented by the Minnesota Hospitals Association.   The three-year agreement is effective June 1, 2013  – May 31, 2016 and impacts 12,000 nurses working in 13 different facilities in the metro area.

Nurses have agreed to a contract that will increase wages by 4.5% over three years     “When they approached us, we saw a great opportunity for an efficient process that would be good for our communities and our patients,” said MNAPresident, Linda Hamilton.
… Read more about: MNA Twin Cities Contract is Ratified  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, National Nurses United, Nurses, Organizing, Politics

HEALTH CARE

Is Mayo Gaming the System?       The CEO of St. Peter’s River’s Edge Hospital and two area physicians have asked the Attorney General to investigate Mayo Clinic Health Systems in St. Peter and Mankato, alleging its doctors and staff are misinforming patients in an effort to funnel patients away from smaller community hospitals and toward Mayo-affiliated facilities.

Advocates for Mental Health Have Momentum After Conn. Massacre    Advocates say the most important objective is strengthening community-based mental health services. They are also focused on early diagnosis and treatment of ill children, and efforts to erase the stigma that surrounds mental health problems.
… Read more about: MNA NewsScan, December 20, 2012: Mayo games?; 11K new jobs  »