MNA Daily NewsScan, November 7, 2012: Elections Reflections; Long shifts=RN burnout (Page 93)

LABOR NEWS

Election Results are a Victory For All Families   AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says the Obama win moves nation on a “path of sanity and shared prosperity.”

After Winning Back Legislature, Dems Take Care Not to “Overstep.”    Spending the last two years in the minority has been a sobering experience for DFLers. But it’s also been educational. They’ve seen what happens when a majority party jams things like marriage and voting amendments onto the ballo without bipartisan support.

HEALTH CARE

Affordable Health Care Act Survives – Barely   Preserving the ACA was not a case of America putting its best foot forward.  Healthcare reform was instead tied to a boulder for a spell–while some drunken  extras from “Deliverance” held a knife-throwing contest.

NOTES ON NURSING

Long Shifts Lead to Nurse Burnout and Dissatisfied Patients   “When long shifts are combined with overtime, shifts that rotate between day and night duty, and consecutive shifts, nurses are at risk for fatigue and burnout,
which may compromise patient care.”

On:
In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

LABOR NEWS

Election Results are a Victory For All Families   AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says the Obama win moves nation on a “path of sanity and shared prosperity.”

After Winning Back Legislature, Dems Take Care Not to “Overstep.”    Spending the last two years in the minority has been a sobering experience for DFLers. But it’s also been educational. They’ve seen what happens when a majority party jams things like marriage and voting amendments onto the ballo without bipartisan support.

HEALTH CARE

Affordable Health Care Act Survives – Barely   Preserving the ACA was not a case of America putting its best foot forward. 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 7, 2012: Elections Reflections; Long shifts=RN burnout  »

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

LABOR

Union workers help with Hurricane Sandy cleanup: Along one the hardest-hit stretches of New York waterfront, union workers fixed Internet connections, disconnected gas pipes to prevent explosions and patrolled the streets in cop cars and ambulances.

Nurses and building operators at two Sonoma County, California hospitals have walked off the job in a three-day strike to protest wages and other issues.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 5, 2012 – Union Workers Clean Up Post-Sandy, CA RNs on Strike  »

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

LABOR

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has canceled concerts through the end of the year. Management locked out musicians Oct. 21, and the union on Wednesday unanimously rejected the current contract proposal.

From In These Times: Mitt Romney’s 9-Point Plan to Kill Unions.

In California: Hundreds of registered nurses walked off the job Thursday morning at seven East Bay hospitals affiliated with Sutter Health in a longstanding dispute over wages, benefits and service cutbacks.

HEALTH CARE

Representatives from the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United held a press conference at the State House Thursday to brief reporters on a new law to ban the dangerous practice of mandatory overtime as an alternative to providing safe registered nurse staffing levels in the state’s acute care hospitals.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 2, 2012 – CA Nurses on Strike; SPCO Lockout Continues  »

On:
In: Activism, Bargaining, Labor Unions, Organizing

[youtube=http://youtu.be/YWRsu6TN2gg]

 

Dressed as mindless zombies, nurses took to Main Street in Bagley on Halloween to call attention to Sanford hospital management proposals that they said 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.
… Read more about: Video Recap: Bagley Nurses Halloween Action  »

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

LABOR

Labor and community groups are gearing up to defeat a measure on the California ballot in November aimed at undermining the ability of unions to financially support election campaigns.

State and national labor unions are cranking up the fundraising in an attempt to kill a proposed change to the Illinois Constitution.

In California, up to 3,200 registered nurses will go on strike beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday. at three Alta Bates Summit Medical Center facilities in Oakland and Berkeley, Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, San Leandro Hospital, Sutter Delta in Antioch, and Sutter Solano in Vallejo.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, October 31, 2012 – 3,200 California RNs Prepare to Strike  »

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

LABOR

Halloween Action: 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.

HEALTH CARE

Representatives from the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United will hold a press conference on Nov. 1 to brief reporters on a new state law to ban the dangerous practice of mandatory overtime as an alternative to providing safe RN staffing levels in the state’s acute care hospitals. The new law goes into effect on Monday, Nov.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, October 30, 2012 – Bagley Nurses Prep for “Scary” Action  »

On:
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  »

On:
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  »

On:
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: