DULUTH, MN (KDAL) – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced on Thursday that a three day strike is planned starting September 12 at hospitals in the Twin Ports and Twin Cities.
It is believed to be the largest private sector nurses strike in U-S history and comes as contract negotiations with hospital executives have not resulted in an agreement.
Contracts for nurses at Essentia and St. Luke’s in Duluth expired in June and the MNA says hospital management has refused solutions to short-staffing, retention and patient care while their CEO’s earn significant raises to their multi-million dollar salaries.
Mary Turner, President of the Nurses Association, says they don’t take the decision to strike lightly but are determined to take a stand at the bargaining table and sidewalks if necessary to “put patients before profits in our hospitals.”
In a news release, Essentia Health says the nurses are seeking a 32.5 percent wage increase over three years while the hospital is offering a ten percent wage increase and other benefits.
Because of the significant gaps, Essentia has repeatedly requested mediation but the union has declined.
Essentia expects to continue negotiating in good faith in pursuit of a mutually beneficial agreement.
Comments