ST. PAUL, Minn., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Nurses from Oregon to New York joined Minnesota Nurses Association members and walked in solidarity today for colleagues at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), who learned recently that County Commissioners have indefinitely postponed a pay raise to the nurses. “This is exactly why a union becomes essential to working families,” said United American Nurses (UAN) President Cheryl Johnson. “Nurses should have the right to carefully and thoughtfully negotiate a living wage -- not be at the whim of a few people.”
The UAN is in the Twin Cities for an annual convention and its delegation walked from the Hilton on Marquette Avenue to the Hennepin County Government Center to demonstrate their discontent with the treatment of the non-organized nurse group at HCMC.
The Minnesota Nurses Association, whose members carry the national UAN card, is seeking a card-check agreement with the county to represent Registered Nurses at HCMC.
“The capricious decision to withhold pay increases is deeply disturbing,” said HCMC Registered Nurse Stephanie Wells. “We obviously need a voice at the table to secure our own future, advance our nursing practice and advocate for the patients and families we serve,” she added. As the county embarks on the process of governance change, the recent action also raises the level of doubt about future direction. HCMC Registered Nurses have expressed concern about pension benefits, overtime policy, service cuts and patient care.
The wage issue flies in the face of contemporary thought and action, as health care faces a pending nurse staffing problem of crisis proportions. Experts predict a supply and demand gap of more than 8,000 nurses by 2020 in Minnesota and 800,000 nationwide. In May, MNA-represented Registered Nurses in 13 contract facilities in the Twin Cities negotiated a 13% increase in wages over the course of 3 years. “Our hospitals saw the wisdom of investing in nurses now, to help ensure a good future for patient care,” said MNA leader, Linda Hamilton.
With more than 17,000 members, MNA is the leading organization for registered nurses in the Midwest and is among the oldest and largest representatives of RNs for collective bargaining in the nation. Established in 1905, MNA is a multi-purpose organization that fosters high standards for nursing education and practice, and works to advance the profession through legislative activity. MNA is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association and its labor arm, the United American Nurses.
Minnesota Nurses Association
CONTACT: Jan Rabbers, Public Relations of Minnesota Nurses Association,+1-651-646-4807, or +1-800-536-4662, ext. 161, or cell +1-612-860-6658,jrabbers@mnnurses.org
