Nurses at Allina to strike: What's at stake?

Muser69 · Sep 5, 2016

Love a good strike. Wish it could be done nationally

allnurses Guide · Sep 5, 2016

Nearly 5,000 Allina Health nurses begin open-ended strike

Nearly 5,000 nurses at five different hospitals in the Twin Cities walked off the job Monday morning after failing to agree to a new contract with Allina Health.The main sticking points are health insurance, workplace safety and staffing levels.

The Minnesota Nurses Association and Allina Health held last minute negotiations over the weekend to try to settle the dispute, but no deal was reached. The open-ended strike began at 7 a.m...

Nearly 5,

allnurses Guide · Sep 5, 2016

Today I Walked Into My Last Shift at United

Kelsey Swenson, Facebook, 9/2/16

... I am a "lifer" at United. 25 years ago, my parents excitedly rushed in for a scheduled c-section and left with unlimited appreciation for the nurses that taught my then new parents how to care for their new bundle of pink joy. It was nurses at United Hospital birth center that diligently assessed and kept my mom and I safe during labor. It was the nurses that taught my dad how to swaddle and comfort his newest joy...

... Flash forward 15 years later to the night by dad was rushed to United's ED with the scary signs of a heart attack, only for my family to find out via CT scan, that Dad had Stage IV colon cancer with mets at the age of 41. It was the nurses at United Hospital 4500 that treated my Dad's pain post-operatively so he could heal. It was the nurses that quickly recognized my Dad had a pulmonary embolism. It was the nurses that called a child life specialist to break the news to his children. His nurse was the one who embraced my stoic father as he broke down crying in front of his family. It was the nurses 18 months later, with such grace, transitioned my dad and his family to comfort care and home hospice so my dad could die in his home surrounded by his family...

... At the age of 22, with a freshly printed diploma in hand, I was the newest nurse to show up in the lobby at United. I was overjoyed to be working at United Hospital. It was the nurses that patiently taught me to take care of my patients. I couldn't have learned what it means to advocate for your patient had it not been for the nurses that showed me...

... My brother was recently hospitalized for 3 months as he was challenged by mental illness. It was one of the hardest things I've done as a nurse, was be one of his supporters. It was the nurses at ANW and on 5920 that comforted me when I was feeling low. It was the nurses that recognized the wonderful, charismatic young man that my brother is and treated him as such. The nurses were the ones to help him cope, give him strength and be an anchor to my family. Navigating the mental health system as a family member was made possible by the amazing nurses that came into contact with us...

... I cannot do this job or continue to do this job without taking care of me first. I have to keep myself strong and safe for my patients. No nurse should have to worry about not "if" but "when" they will be hurt or exposed to something at work. My care should never be compromised because there aren't enough nurses to safely care for the amount of very sick people that we deal with every day. I must stand up for my profession so that there will be experienced, seasoned nurses in the future to teach new and eager nurses, how to be compassionate caregivers....

... It is each and every nurse here that is strong enough to collaboratively say "we deserve better and so do our patients."...

Today I Walked Into My Last Shift at United | National Nurses United

ArtClassRN, ADN, RN · Sep 5, 2016

A mostly unpublicized aspect of this strike is that the MNA nurses gave in to Allina demands during negotiations. Nurses agreed to transition off the expensive nurse-only plans that we had bargained for. In return, nurses asked that Allina agree in writing to preserve the value of the "Allina core plans" we are transferring to. Allina refused, demanding the right to reduce the actuarial value of those plans by up to 5% a year. Nurses asked that the plans not decrease in value by 5% over the length of the three year contract.

This entire dispute is about Allina trying to strip benefits and nurses trying to hang onto them. The union did not begin negotiations making a single demand, we would have settled for the same terms as the previous contract. Allina got what they wanted, we agreed to let them slash our benefits. We just wanted Allina to agree to not further slash them.

Allina refused. They want the right to continue to hack away at our compensation.

allnurses Guide · Sep 7, 2016

A mostly unpublicized aspect of this strike is that the MNA nurses gave in to Allina demands during negotiations. Nurses agreed to transition off the expensive nurse-only plans that we had bargained for. In return, nurses asked that Allina agree in writing to preserve the value of the "Allina core plans" we are transferring to. Allina refused, demanding the right to reduce the actuarial value of those plans by up to 5% a year. Nurses asked that the plans not decrease in value by 5% over the length of the three year contract.
This entire dispute is about Allina trying to strip benefits and nurses trying to hang onto them. The union did not begin negotiations making a single demand, we would have settled for the same terms as the previous contract. Allina got what they wanted, we agreed to let them slash our benefits. We just wanted Allina to agree to not further slash them.
Allina refused. They want the right to continue to hack away at our compensation.

THANK YOU!

I consider you and your colleagues to be doing this for all nurses. I'm so glad you have support from the community.

Almost 5,000 nurses at 5 Twin Cities hospitals go on strike
By Tory Cooney, St. Paul Pioneer Press on Sep 5, 2016 at 10:52 p.m
The strike follows a 22-hour negotiation session that stretched from Friday into Saturday morning but failed to produce an agreement between the Minnesota Nurses Association and Minneapolis-based Allina...
... "We want to reach an agreement and go back to work. The ball is in Allina's court. We're here when they're willing to talk," said negotiating team member Mike Ciampi...
The St. Paul picketers, dressed in red and holding signs, circulated along Smith Street in front of the hospital. Passing cars showed their support by honking their horns and cheering. Even city buses and ambulances joined in the honking, while individuals and businesses donated water, ice and food to help the nurses, MNA spokeswoman Barbara Brady said...
... MNA nurses on strike from each facility will be "ready and available" to return in case of a medical emergency, the union announced in a statement Sunday.
"Nurses care for their patients, even beyond the bedside," Angela Becchetti, a nurse at Abbott Northwestern, was quoted as saying. "MNA nurses have always responded to emergencies on their own just like the 35W bridge collapse when hundreds of nurses showed up at every metro hospital to assist."...
Almost 5, nurses at 5 Twin Cities hospitals go on strike | Duluth News Tribune

FloridaBeagle · Sep 11, 2016

Good for them. There were so many nights where I felt unsafe, for various reasons. From dangerous patients to understaffing (putting me at risk for injury when there is no one available to help me move my 2+ assist patient and/or I can't keep up to provide timely, safe care). While I never worked at one of those particular hospitals, all hospitals are the same. I pray I never have to work at a hospital again.

allnurses Guide · Sep 12, 2016

With nurses on the outside, Allina CEO focuses her attention on the real issues: Health Catalyst

Mathew Keller, RN JD Regulatory and Policy Nursing Specialist, 9/6/16

It's been well reported that Allina Health, a $3.9-billion nonprofit healthcare organization, investedâ€ $108 million in Health Catalyst, a private for-profit technology company. As part of the deal, Allina is outsourcing its data warehousing, analytics, performance improvement technology, and personnel to Health Catalyst.â€

In fact, the money Allina spends on Health Catalyst represents the cost of what the staff and toolsâ€ were costing Allina, according to Allina CEO Penny Wheeler.

In other words, Allina took a segment of its business and paid to outsource it to a for-profit company.

The conflicts of interest abound. For starters, Allina CEO Penny Wheeler is on the Health Catalyst Board of Directors...

... As Health Catalyst CEO Dan Burton wrote in a press release, one of the aims of the deal with Allina Health is to 'Turbocharge' financialâ€¦ outcomes.â€...

... While 4,800 of its nurses are on the outside of the hospitals, asking for Allina to come to a fair deal, Abbott Northwestern Hospital's senior vice president couldn't be bothered â€” he's in Salt Lake City, at Health Catalyst's annual conference...

... at a time when Abbott Northwestern is facing a crisis, at a time when the employees who actually deliver the care patients receive are outside of the hospital doors, at a time when leadership is needed more than ever, Abbott's senior vice president's time and attention are focused on one thing: Health Catalyst.

With nurses on the outside, Allina CEO focuses her attention on the real issues: Health Catalyst - Minnesota Nurses Association

LiveFit99 · Sep 25, 2016

I interviewed with Allina over the summer after finishing my BSN, but I did not get hired. I was a bit bummed but also felt their $26/hr was low for the Twin Cities cost of living. Then I talked with the Uni hospitals there, I forget their starting pay but it was in the $30 range with better benefits (but a slow, drawn out hiring process I couldn't wait for).

I'm not sure what predicament I would be in if I had to strike so quickly after being hired, with no financial reserves. Welp, I ended up in Kansas City, with even lower pay, passable benefits, and no unions. Good luck MN.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2016

I've heard some stories about Allina from classmates now currently on strike. No wonder nurses voted to strike again. I thought of applying to Abbott, for a PACU position, but decided against it. Now that I hear the starting pay is lower than at other facilities, I have second thoughts about applying for any jobs at Allina.

J Friday · Sep 25, 2016

"In other words, Allina took a segment of its business and paid to outsource it to a for-profit company.

The conflicts of interest abound. For starters, Allina CEO Penny Wheeler is on the Health Catalyst Board of Directors..."

WOW !!!!! non-profits are SUCH SCAM ARTISTS !!!!

STRIKE ON BROTHERS and SISTERS !!!!

ShelbyaStar · Oct 3, 2016

I interviewed with Allina over the summer after finishing my BSN, but I did not get hired. I was a bit bummed but also felt their $26/hr was low for the Twin Cities cost of living. Then I talked with the Uni hospitals there, I forget their starting pay but it was in the $30 range with better benefits (but a slow, drawn out hiring process I couldn't wait for).

Wow. I'm a new grad with an ADN and got offered $26/hr from one LTC facility, the same from an agency, and $28/hr plus retention bonuses from the LTC I did go to work for. That's crazy. I watch job sites a lot and it's rare to see jobs post their wages but when I do I feel like most hospitals around here pay better than that, around $30. Even when this is all over, I don't think I'd ever go to work for Allina, not when there are so many other options here. They are really shooting themselves in the foot IMO.

Some Allina nurses have picked up shifts at my facility. Most have been scared off by the realities of LTC. Still, I'm very glad they're taking a stand.