Nurses described a snowball effect to the staffing crisis. The worse it gets, the more likely others are to leave the profession.
Insurance plan trustee advises members ‘go elsewhere for care’ during Allina strike
September 22, 2016 by
The president of a major Minnesota union sent a letter this week to members enrolled in its health insurance plans urging them to “go elsewhere for health care” during the Allina strike. Jennifer Christensen, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1189, cited concerns about “quality control” and patient safety at five Allina Health […]
Nurses approve contracts with five Twin Cities hospital systems
January 20, 2016 by
Nurses from five Twin Cities hospital systems voted yesterday to ratify union contracts that will protect their pension and health benefits and provide 2 percent raises in each of the next three years. The new contracts won’t go into effect for more than four months. Negotiations between the Minnesota Nurses Association and the hospitals – […]
As reports of understaffing soar, Minnesota plummets in hospital safety rankings
October 29, 2015 by
Minnesota plummeted in a nationwide ranking of hospital safety released yesterday, but that came as no surprise to nurses, whose reports of unsafe staffing incidents in hospitals statewide have doubled over the last 12 months. Minnesota fell from 15th to 32nd in the Hospital Safety Score rankings, based on the percentage of hospitals that receive […]
Staffing, safety concerns prompt HealthEast officers’ union drive
August 13, 2015 by
There is safety in numbers and strength in a union. Security officers at HealthEast hospitals are organizing to achieve both. Officers say they’ve been warning management for years about dangerously low staffing levels among their ranks. HealthEast usually keeps just two security officers on duty at each of its four East Metro hospitals – […]
Unity Hospital workers go union after voting under new NLRB rules
July 15, 2015 by
About 350 workers at Unity Hospital in Fridley voted yesterday to join SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, the union announced today. The new bargaining unit includes nursing assistants, dietary aides, environmental services aides, patient care technicians and other positions. Over 59 percent of workers voted in favor of forming a union. It was the first major election […]
Attack on Maplewood nurses prompts legislation to prevent future assaults
March 12, 2015 by
Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell warned senators on the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee that the video footage he would show in their hearing yesterday, taken during a patient’s attack on nurses at St. John’s Hospital last year, was disturbing and violent. The footage showed a typical hospital workstation that, in an instant and […]
SEIU members, Twin Cities hospitals reach agreement
March 3, 2015 by
Health care workers at eight Twin Cities hospitals are poised to enjoy greater health and safety protections on the job as part of their new union contract. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota announced today that its members have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract covering about 3,500 workers at five health systems: Children’s Hospitals, […]
As talks stall, Cambridge nurses rally for safe care
November 20, 2014 by
CAMBRIDGE – Nurses at Cambridge Medical Center picketed the hospital today, warning the public that looming staff cuts pose a threat to patient safety. Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association called on Allina Health, which operates the Cambridge facility, to put patients over profits in contract negotiations that began Sept. 30, when management opened the […]
NLRB: North Memorial responded to staffing campaign with harassment, retaliation
October 30, 2014 by
North Memorial Hospital illegally retaliated against union nurses and health care workers who participated in a campaign to fight staffing cuts and protect patient safety at the Robbinsdale hospital, according to a complaint issued this week by the Minneapolis-based Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board. The complaint finds merit to charges of unfair […]
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