Potential MN Nurses Strike?

Published

Below is video of an amazing, heartfelt and to-the-point statement from Methodist Hospital RN Karen Anderson during today's bargaining session. Please watch and share this video as it sums up what this entire contract bargaining situation is all about!

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]
Specializes in Pediatrics, med-surg, post-partum, MH.
Reports that I have read say the nurses are planning to strike for one day???? I can't see how this is going to benefit the nurses in bargaining for better benefits and work conditions. The only way to make the powers that be buckle is to walk out and not return until reasonable demands are met. Nurses can easily be replaced for one or two days so the strike really will not have a significant impact. Thus the powers that be have no reasons to compromise. If this backfires it will seriously weaken your union.

Feedback we're getting from our hospitals is that relief workers are hired on a weekly basis. With the 10 day advance notification the hospitals intend to essentially (from the sounds of it) make the same adjustments they would have made if it were a permanent strike (i.e. adjusting patient ratios, rescheduling elective surgeries, etc). They are saying that if the union strikes for one day, it could take up to a week to bring the striking nurses back in.

From what I've read about the situation the one day strike is intended to cause significant financial impact (full week pay for relief workers) and headaches for the hospitals, while hopefully not impacting staff nurses wages as much as a month or more of striking would. I have no idea if this type of strike is effective.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac/stroke/med surg/telemetry.

90% of 9,000 voting nurses rejected the offer and authorized a strike.

http://mnablog.com/

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just heard that the nurses in the Twin Cities voted by well over 90% to reject the hospitals' "last best and final" offer - I presume the rejection also includes authorization for a strike. More than 9,000 nurses participated in the vote, which is a mind-boggling logistical and organizing feat for sure. I remember organizing a vote like this for about 500 nurses at my own hospital and it was a huge job. My admiration to all involved. Sometimes, a vote this strong makes the employer do a little reconsidering of their "final" offer. We can hope.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I am a MN nurse who is in one of the striking hospitals... it IS a ULP strike. They (the union) have a huge list of violations.

Send us good vibes that the hospital caves before we get to the strike!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac/stroke/med surg/telemetry.

It was amazing how well organized and smoothly the voting was. It had to be in person this time so there was a paper trail in case of a close vote. In previous years there was telephone voting and lapses in security. 9000 nurses were bused in from 14 hospitals all day long. The process was get on the union chartered bus at your hospital, go downtown to vote (two minutes) and back on the bus to return to your community. I would have thought it would be a logistical nightmare, but I ws really impressed. Reporters were running around trying to find a nurse who accepted the contrect to interview, they couldn't find any. It was a sea of red MNA T-shirts. I am not involved in the MNA other than a foot soldier staff nurse member, but I think in years to come, this effort will be a "how to" for the rest of the country in organizing. It was very, very impressive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Since my union came together with MNA and others to form NNU (National Nurses United) I've had the chance to get to know some of that leadership. Great folks who are genuinely devoted to nurses and nursing. It truly is the case that many contracts settle after a very strong strike vote. With the attitude this management has had, I'm not holding out too much hope for that, but but a really strong show of unity like this is what gives it the best chance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

minn. nurses authorize strike at 14 hospitals

by chris williams associated press writer

updated: 05/19/2010 11:11:54 pm cdt

st. paul, minn.--thousands of nurses at 14 twin cities hospitals voted overwhelmingly wednesday to reject contract proposals and authorize a strike as early as next month in a dispute over pension benefits and staffing levels.

minnesota nursing association spokesman john nemo said more than 90 percent of the 9,000 nurses voting wednesday backed a walkout, which the union says would be the largest nurses' strike in u.s. history.

the union said it would limit a strike to one day. nemo said the date hasn't been picked, but it won't be until after the current contract expires on may 31. ...

http://www.twincities.com/ci_15122205?iadid=search-www.twincities.com-&nclick_check=1

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac/stroke/med surg/telemetry.

I've been a MNA member for 23 years, and when they joined the NNU I didn't really pay much attention. But with negotiations this time, I could feel the confidence at the beginning, I knew something was different. They certainly know what they are doing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am a MN nurse who is in one of the striking hospitals... it IS a ULP strike. They (the union) have a huge list of violations.

Send us good vibes that the hospital caves before we get to the strike!

I think they are FILING for ULP but it takes time to find out it is deemed ULP or not. We are hoping for that but my understanding is that we do not know for sure just yet. I could be wrong.

I also hope for some negotiation before a strike.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think they are FILING for ULP but it takes time to find out it is deemed ULP or not. We are hoping for that but my understanding is that we do not know for sure just yet. I could be wrong.

I also hope for some negotiation before a strike.

I may be wrong about this, as I am not an expert, but have some experience. I think you are thinking of two different (though related) things: There is a procedure with the national labor relations board to adjudicate claims of an unfair labor practice. That procedure can take a long time and can lead to a board ordered or negotiated requirement for remedial action. But the mere fact the the claim is pending is enough to make this a "ULP strike". The judgement process need not be ended for that to be the case.

As to more negotiations, I would sincerely hope that would happen. But, from what I have read, the employers have stated that this is their "last, best and final" offer and that they have no interest in coming back to the table other than for the union to accept that offer as it stands. Now, employers often say things like that and then think better of it after a very strong vote, so let's hope that's the case this time. But coming back to the table at this point is really dependent on the employers willingness to negotiate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I may be wrong about this, as I am not an expert, but have some experience. I think you are thinking of two different (though related) things: There is a procedure with the national labor relations board to adjudicate claims of an unfair labor practice. That procedure can take a long time and can lead to a board ordered or negotiated requirement for remedial action. But the mere fact the the claim is pending is enough to make this a "ULP strike". The judgement process need not be ended for that to be the case.

As to more negotiations, I would sincerely hope that would happen. But, from what I have read, the employers have stated that this is their "last, best and final" offer and that they have no interest in coming back to the table other than for the union to accept that offer as it stands. Now, employers often say things like that and then think better of it after a very strong vote, so let's hope that's the case this time. But coming back to the table at this point is really dependent on the employers willingness to negotiate.

Oh, well that would be nice. I admittedly don't know a lot about this stuff, very complicated. Thanks for clearing that up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Well comparing another state's wages to MN is certainly comparing apples to oranges. Then comparing VA wages in another state to MN isn't even on the same planet. Try comparing union wages in your state to non-union wages and you'll see something closer. The take into account what you pay in dues and the handcuffs the union puts on you and you'll see things look different. If you ask me if it's fair that I have to pay someone to insure a lazy nurse who hasn't kept up on education and training but has been there longer is worth more than me who keeps increasing skills and learning new things. I'll tell you NO. Keep your union, I'll keep a career that I can control

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion