MINNEAPOLIS - Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association rallied in solidarity Saturday as 6,000 registered nurses represented by the MNA enter negotiations with the Allina hospital system.
The Allina nurses are the only Twin Cities group yet to get a contract. Last month, nurses ratified a three-year contract with five hospital systems that operate Fairview Southdale and Riverside facilities, Children's Minneapolis and St. Paul hospitals, Methodist, North Memorial Medical Center, and HealthEast's Bethesda, St. Joseph's and St. John's hospitals.
Those negotiations were “wage-only,” leaving other contract provisions intact. Allina management declined to limit bargaining to wages.
“We’re all here to support the MNA nurses of Allina,” MNA President Mary Turner told the crowd of more than 300 gathered at the Ramada hotel in Minneapolis for Saturday’s event.
“We’re here to kick off negotiations with Allina hospitals and let our nurses know we are with them every step of the way,” she said.
The room was a sea of red – the MNA’s signature color – as nurses wore red shirts and caps sporting the MNA logo. Participants included nurses from Allina hospitals and from other facilities across the state, the union said.
The facilities covered by the contract with Allina include Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis, Mercy in Coon Rapids, United in St. Paul and Unity in Fridley.