Iron Range nurses authorize strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4848

16 April 2011

HIBBING - Nurses at Fairview-owned Range Regional Health Services voted resoundingly Friday to authorize their RN leadership to call for a strike.

“For nearly nine months, hospital executives have turned a deaf ear toward our concerns about staffing levels and the safety of our patients,” said April Klander, RN, chair of the Minnesota Nurses Association’s bargaining team at RRHS. “They have forced us into this situation, and our nurses have responded loud and clear: We’re willing to strike for our patients and our profession.”

More than 150 nurses at RRHS are represented by MNA in the negotiations, which began in September 2010. Nurses and hospital executives have met more than a dozen times since then and have been unable to reach a contract agreement.

“The reason things got to this point is pretty simple,” Klander said. “We cannot continue in good conscience working in situations and circumstances that continually put our patients and ourselves at risk.”

Friday’s vote means nurse leaders at RRHS can call for a strike at any time, though federal labor laws require the hospital be given at least 10 days notice of the nurses’ intent to strike.

FULL story at link.

[iwishiwas]

1. Sometimes it is necessary. Good on them for taking care of themselves and

their patients.