Press Release: “Zombie” Nurses to hold Halloween Event on “The Sanford Scare” in Bagley (Page 93)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Sara Dorner, MNA, 651-260-4864 cell or sara.dorner@mnnurses.org

“Zombie” Nurses hold Halloween Event on “The Sanford Scare” in Bagley

BAGLEY, Minnesota (October 29, 2102) – Dressed as mindless zombies, nurses will take to Main Street in Bagley from 12-4 pm on Halloween to call attention to Sanford hospital management proposals that they say are “scary” when it comes to protecting patient safety.

“In an unprecedented move, Sanford management came in and threw out a union contract that had been in place for decades,” said Rachel Lewis, an LPN at Sanford Bagley Medical Center. “This contract existed for a reason – it kept our patients safe and gave nurses a voice in the workplace. Our nurses are also being forced to work 14-to-16 hour shifts at times because management isn’t providing us with the ancillary staff needed for non-patient care duties.”

Represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, a group of 30 Bagley LPNs and RNs have been bargaining with Sanford officials since April 2012 regarding a new labor contract.

“Hospital management also wants to strip nurses of our ability to advocate for patients by imposing what they call a ‘management rights’ clause into our contract,” Lewis added. “If that happens, Sanford expects nurses will do what they are told to do, when and how they are told to do it, no questions asked. Even if it means we have to ignore our professional nursing judgment regarding our patients’ health.”

During the Halloween event, Bagley area nurses will come in costume as mindless zombies. There will also be a witch stirring a cauldron with the sign, “What’s Sanford Got Brewing?” Nurses will be greeting trick or treaters, handing out candy and talking with Bagley residents about the situation with Sanford.

“This is our community, and it’s our family, friends and neighbors who stand to suffer if Sanford has its way with this contract,” Lewis said. “We need to make sure they understand what’s at stake.”

Founded in 1905, the Minnesota Nurses Association represents more than 20,000 nurses in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Learn more about MNA online at http://www.mnnurses.org.

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Organizing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Sara Dorner, MNA, 651-260-4864 cell or sara.dorner@mnnurses.org

“Zombie” Nurses hold Halloween Event on “The Sanford Scare” in Bagley

BAGLEY, Minnesota (October 29, 2102) – Dressed as mindless zombies, nurses will take to Main Street in Bagley from 12-4 pm on Halloween to call attention to Sanford hospital management proposals that they say are “scary” when it comes to protecting patient safety.

“In an unprecedented move, Sanford management came in and threw out a union contract that had been in place for decades,” said Rachel Lewis, an LPN at Sanford Bagley Medical Center.
… Read more about: Press Release: “Zombie” Nurses to hold Halloween Event on “The Sanford Scare” in Bagley  »

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In: Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, National Nurses United, Nurses, Nursing, Politics, Robin Hood Tax

LABOR NEWS

From The Star Tribune: Employers are getting more aggressive with “Take it or leave it” offers and turning to lockouts more and more as a bargaining tactic.

HEALTH CARE

Nurse: Mitt Romney’s health care plan is wrong for America.

 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, October 29, 2012 – Lockouts on the Rise  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

Nursing issues are at stake in this election.  With a nurse-friendly legislature we can:

  • Advance MNA’s Safe Staffing bill
  • Stop the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact from bringing down Minnesota’s nursing standards
  • Protect Workers’ Rights

Many MNA-endorsed candidates are in close races and help from nurses could put them over the top. 
MNA’s 2012 Legislative Scorecard offers insight into voting records on nursing issues of candidates who served in last year’s legislature and are running for re-election.     

Get out your calendar and block out time to:

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In: Activism, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing

NOTES ON NURSING

Irony in Which Jobs Most Likely to Get You Sick or Injured in America   The riskiest job in America is nursing and residential care in a state  government run facility.

HEALTH CARE

The Island Where People Forget to Die  He didn’t expect to live to harvest them, but he enjoyed being in the sunshine, breathing the ocean air.  Six months came and went. Moraitis didn’t die. Instead, he reaped his garden and, feeling emboldened, cleaned up the family vineyard as well.

The Corporate Health Care Money Just Keeps on Flowing Part 1.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, October 26, 2012: Nursing is riskiest job in America  »

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


Paul and Sheila Wellstone
1944 – 2002″Politics is about what we create by what we do, what we hope for, and what we dare to imagine.”

NOTES ON NURSING

Nurses Show Solidarity in Opposition to Allina Proposed Uniform Policy    MNA members ”Got the Red Out” this morning at an Arbitration meeting to show MNA solidarity against the uniform policy Allina is attempting to force on nurses.

LABOR

Jobless Claims Fall; Give Clearer Sign of Health    The four-week moving average for jobless claims, which smoothes out such volatility, rose 1,500 to a 368,000.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, October 25, 2012: Allina action; Jobless claims down  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing

Oct. 25, 2012

MNA members “Got the Red Out” this morning at an Arbitration meeting to show MNA solidarity against the uniform policy Allina is attempting to force on nurses. Allina implemented the uniform policy without bargaining with the union.  This unilateral implementation is a glaring disregard for the obligation and respect to bargaining over mandatory subjects impacting nurses working conditions. Members stood together to greet the employer and the arbitrator to show them the power, support for one another and unity. Nurses from Allina system throughout the state as well as other MNA nurses came today.  Message to Allina:  You take on one MNA member; you take on ALL MNA members.
… Read more about: MNA Members In Solidarity to Oppose Allina Uniform Policy  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING

Hayride For Patient Safety in Marshall  MNA Nurses at Marshall Avera Regional Medical Center took to the streets on Oct. 23 – on a haywagon – to campaign for a fair contract that keeps patients safe.   

LABOR NEWS

Today in History:  In 1940, the 40-hour work week went into effect under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Equal Pay?  U.S. Still Doesn’t Get it Right    If a young man and woman fresh out of college with the same degree walk into a large firm, typically, the man can get placed in higher-wage jobs than the woman.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, October 24, 2012: Marshall action; Honoring Wellstones; Equal pay news is dismal  »

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In: Uncategorized

MNA nurses at Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center took their patient advocacy to the streets yesterday – on a haywagon!  Carrying the message of “Nurses on the Frontlines for Main Street People,” the nurses rode a very public route that included passing the hospital, Southwest State University and the HyVee, as well as through residential streets.  Negotiations are dragging and nurses are demanding a contract that helps nurses keep patients safe, including:

• adequate staffing

• A contract that gives us a stronger voice in patient care

• Healthy workplaces that keep nurses at the bedside

MNA members distributed nearly 1,000 flyers with the name and contact information of Avera CEO, Mary Martens.
… Read more about: Marshall Nurses on Hayride for Patient Safety  »

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

HEALTH CARE

“Substantial” Variation from State to State in Hospital Safety Records    The rankings are based on an analysis of data released annually by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and look at how approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide performed on risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for nearly 30 of the most common conditions and procedures.

U.S. Health Care Costs Comparison Doesn’t Add Up   How much is good health care worth to you? $8,233 per year? That’s how much the U.S. spends per person.  Worth it?

LABOR NEWS

Another Blow to Scott Walker’s Attempts to Strip Collective Bargaining Unit Laws  Attorney General J.B.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, October 23, 2012: Take a sick day – you’re fired; Kennedy trial begins  »

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In: Activism, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

HEALTH CARE

Is Imported Seafood Safe?   In a scathing 2011 report, the General Accounting Office found that in fiscal 2009, the FDA tested about 0.1 percent of all imported seafood products for drug residues.”

Large Employers Look to On-Site Clinics to Reduce Costs and Absenteeism  These facilities are being established by firms across all sectors to offer everything from urgent and primary care to biometric screenings to chronic disease management.

Are Social Factors Tied to Hospital Readmissions?   In the new study, researchers analyzed data from 72 previous papers examining the reasons people died or were readmitted to the hospital, and found that age, race, employment status, living situation, education and income levels are just some of the factors that may play a role.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, Oct. 22, 2012: RI makes flu shots mandatory for HC workers; What factors contribute to readmissions  »