1,300 on Strike in Minnesota

Jenny P · Jun 3, 2001

PeggyOhio, all of these contracts were negotiated by the MNA, but they were 8-10 different contracts. We used to have 17 hospitals all under one contract, but when the mergers and aquisitions were occuring back in the 90's, the nurses at my hospiatl broke out of the larger contract and negotiated separately (we're a bunch of militant radicals, according to some other hospitals here). Then the remaining hospitals decided to divide up into smaller groups to better target the unique needs of their nurses. That's why all of these contracts came due at the same time. (BTW, the Pioneer Press claims that there are 1500 nurses out on strike at the 2 Fairview hospitals).

So, the hospital negotiators got together and the salary and pension plans are pretty much the came, but the benefits, scheduling, differentials, longevity, tuition reimbersment, etc. are all different. It works for us better than if we were all lumped together.

[ June 03, 2001: Message edited by: Jenny P ]

PeggyOhio · Jun 3, 2001

JennyP,

What was decided about mandatory overtime, and staffing ratios?

kjmta57 · Jun 4, 2001

made the national news in the fresno bee today in california.

-jt · Jun 4, 2001

Nothing had to be decided about mandatory ot because those nurses & their association outlawed it in their contracts years ago. mandatory OT doesnt exist for them.

One of the big they gained is rights related to patient load which is a part of the staffing issue.

Jenny P · Jun 4, 2001

Thanks, Julie, for answering that for me. I had answered it under the "debride the scabs" thread, aand it should have been answered under here too.

Right now I just found out that they are doing anrecount for my hospitals' votes-- I think the vote was very close; but I don't know why they are doing the recount. The news just reported that Methodist Hospital ratified their contract tonight, and that was the last hospital contract we were waiting to hear about. Now I'll wait and hear if they change the count for my hospital and report back to you (I'm surprised; Minnesotans don't have "chads", so I'm not sure why the recount). :eek:

Huganurse · Jun 4, 2001

Saw TV news coverage of MN nurses strike tonight. Showed picket lines and reported that it was for better pt care and working conditions. I was glad to see the coverage in a "right to work state" where unions are the minority. Good luck!

Jenny P · Jun 4, 2001

This is what I'd posted on the other thread. Mandatory overtime was prohibited in the MNA Twin City contracts back in 1987;

so that wasn't an issue here at this time. The non-contract hospitals here do use

mandatory overtime, and outstate areas do not address it in many of their MNA

contracts. We are trying to get the state of Minnesota to ban mandatory overtime

for nurses within the state and have been actively lobbying for this. I'm not sure

if the bill has been passed yet (our state government is still trying to finish all of

their last minute stuff), but we feel very strongly that NO NURSE should be forced

to work beyond her scheduled shift. So, you can volunteer to work an extra shift,

or we work short-- and that is what has caused the burn out here.

The short staffing was addressed; and no, nurse patient ratios were not

addressed in my contract, but patient flow (admissions, discharges, closing units

to admissions, etc.) was, and unit autonomy was also. The hospital will be hiring

extra nurses to help with admissions and transfers and discharges. More ceative

scheduling will be allowed, with Baylor weekend plans, intermittant casual staffing

and per diem staffing (which we've never had at my hospital before), and shift

and rotating differentials were significantly increased. They have also added a

differential to the float pool staff (which has become almost non-existant this

past year).

Please note: the hospital corporations got together and offered all 13 hospitals

similar salary and pension packages; but the benefits, longevity, educational and

staffing issues are all different. That is why North settled on their first vote back

on May 17th, and why each of the 11th hour votes were so different-- each

hospitals' nurses decided if their whole contract would be a workable solution for

their facility or not.

Stargazer · Jun 4, 2001

The strikes also made NPR News on Sunday morning. Good luck to all.

Jenny P · Jun 4, 2001

It is now after 4PM here and my negotiating teams' hotline phone # has not been updated since last night when the vote was "in doubt" and MNA says that they've had 3 recounts and they are now talking to the attorneys for both MNA and my hospital. (my hospital contract covers 2 hospitals). Now nurses from 2 other hospitals are also demanding recounts, and those results have not been publisized. This is tense. I'm not sure what will happen here, but I do know that the nurses on strike should be out there because their hospital really gave them a sh***y deal--they would "form a committee" to look at staffing; and their health insurance would actually go up for them. These were addressed and corrected in our contract; so I will be out there supporting those nurses no matter what happens at my hospital. :rolleyes:

nurse57 · Jun 4, 2001

Good luck MN nurses! Although unions are not always supported, everyone connected with healthcare needs to stand up and take notice! I spoke to my friend that is a nurse up there(A town northwest of the cities)and she was telling me she had called in one day because it was to be her third mandatory overtime and she knew she would not be safe.

-jt · Jul 22, 2001

Nurses Strike in Minnesota - Victory at Fairview!!

http://www.mnnurses.org/

7/10/01

After three weeks on the strike lines, Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA)/UAN Nurses at Fairview Southdale and Fairview Riverside ratified a contract that compensates nurses fairly, improves benefits, improves ergonomic standards and gives nurses an important voice in the decision-making process in patient admissions during understaffing. Congratulations, MNA nurses! .........

Statement from Jacquie Luoma, RN, Chair of the Metropolitan Council of MNA Representatives:

"Today is the closure to this negotiation process and the beginning of what nurses need to do. Our focus must now be on making the contract language and the enhancements we have achieved, work..........

Minnesota nurses have raised the level of consciousness about safe patient care. We are grateful for the support we have received from the community and legislators, and for the effort the media has made to tell this complex story.

We will move ahead with these contracts knowing much more work needs to be done.......

There is still a world wide nursing shortage. There are still concerns in patient flow within our acute care systems. But we also know nurses are engaged and determined to hold the system accountable to existing agreements and to move forward with more changes. Nurses will continue to stand strong for their practice, and speak up about safe patient care .......

Statement from Sue Buesgens, chairperson of the MNA bargaining team:

Fairview Riverside and Fairview Southdale nurses have today ratified the tentative settlement and return to work Agreement negotiated in the all day and evening bargaining session last Friday. Under the ratified agreement, temporary strikebreakers will cease working at Fairview and the MNA nurses will again take over as of 7 a.m. Friday, June 29th, 2001.........

*The new Agreement provides salary scales like those of other metropolitan Hospitals. It increases the Employer contributions to 75% of the family health insurance premiums and provides annual longevity bonuses ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 starting in the last year of the three year Contract. Of key importance to the nurses, the Contract allows bargaining unit nurses to temporarily close their unit to admissions when the nursing care needs of patients exceeds the available nurses and alternative resources are not available........

*An important provision continuing in the total package is the limits placed on the frequency and number of pounds a nurse is required to lift; This takes on greater significance with President Bush's veto of the OSHA ergonomic standards. Other highlights are paid education days, fewer holidays for senior nurses, and increased differentials for evenings, nights, and weekends........

The Settlement was recommended by the negotiating committee. Sue Buesgens, chairperson of the MNA team said the settlement was a result of compromise by both parties. It's not perfect but it goes a long way to meeting the goals of the nurse group. Now we can get back to what we know best, caring for our patients.........."