Mental health workers strike: ‘Allina does not respect us in the slightest’

Mental health workers at two Twin Cities hospitals wrapped up a three-day strike Wednesday, with union members rallying on the picket line outside Abbott Northwestern and vowing not to be bullied in contract negotiations with Allina Health. “It has been quite evident that Allina does not respect us in the slightest,” said Jordan Cich, a […]

Mental health workers notify Allina, Fairview of intent to strike again

More Twin Cities health care workers are poised to strike for safer hospital staffing. Mental health workers at MHealth Fairview and two Allina Health hospitals notified the providers today of their intent to open a three-day strike Oct. 3. The bargaining units bring together over 400 essential employees who organized unions with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota […]

As staffing crisis deepens, DFL lawmakers respond with bill to keep nurses at bedside

Sen. Erin Murphy, a registered nurse and the bill’s chief author, called the measure “a hyperlocal, hospital-by-hospital approach” to dealing with the staffing crisis.

Techs at two Allina hospitals begin 48-hour strike for health and safety protections

“Allina needs to take care of all of its employees,” technician Molly Wrobleski said. “Our community deserves better.”

Fighting for pandemic protections, workers at two Allina hospitals set new strike date

At issue is whether some 200 workers maintain pay and benefits if exposed to COVID-19 and forced to quarantine.

Laser focused on cutting health care, Allina turns deaf ear to nurses’ safety concerns

  When Celeste Kopacek’s patient in the neuroscience unit at Abbott Northwestern Hospital told her he was going home to get his gun and would come back to find her, she reported the threat to Allina security. “They told me to call back if he showed up,” Kopacek said. Since contract negotiations with Allina began […]

Hospital workers take a stand for paid sick time

Nurses and hospital workers today added their voices to the call for guaranteed access to earned sick and safe time for all workers, urging members of the Minneapolis City Council to take up a robust citywide ordinance when they meet Thursday. It’s estimated 42 percent of Twin Cities workers don’t receive earned sick and safe […]

Nurses at Plymouth care center go union

Registered nurses at WestHealth Emergency Department and Urgent Care voted Feb. 13 in favor of joining the Minnesota Nurses Association, a health care facility based in Plymouth and operated by Abbott Northwestern. In the unit of 32 nurses, 92 percent voted in favor of joining MNA in balloting conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. […]