Nurses say they will strike if necessary

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4415

By Barb Kucera
28 March 2010

MINNETONKA - While members of the Minnesota Nurses Association negotiate a new contract with Twin Cities hospitals, the historic strikes of 1984 and 2001 are not far from their minds.
At a rally Saturday at Hopkins High School, several nurses recalled those struggles – and said they are ready to walk out again to maintain a fair contract and protect patient safety.

“Everything we fought for in 2001, they are taking away,” said Peg Malaske, one of 1,350 nurses who struck Fairview Health Systems in 2001.

“Methodist Hospital has put together a proposal to end everything we fought for in 1984,” said Laurie Christian, who took part in the 1984 strike – the largest RN strike in U.S. history – when 6,000 nurses walked off the job for 35 days.

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to prove it to them (management) again,” said Jean Ross, a veteran of both strikes and co-president of National Nurses United, the 150,000-member national nurses union of which the Minnesota Nurses Association is a part.



Staffing, pensions are key issues
The current labor contract between 12,000 Minnesota nurses and six Twin Cities hospital systems (North Memorial, HealthEast, Allina, Methodist, Children’s and Fairview) expires May 31.

While bargaining continues, MNA already has scheduled a vote May 19 to either ratify a new contract or authorize a strike. At the forefront of 2010 talks are two issues – RN staffing levels and the nurses’ pension fund, which has been in place since 1962.

FULL story at link.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

1. Kick N Rec for Nurses.

The backbone of health care. :yourock: