The picket signs are printed and neatly stacked. The replacement nurses have been hired.
It’s on.
Barring a last-minute miracle, 12,000 nurses throughout the Twin Cities will strike from 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday, the largest nurses strike in the history of the United States.
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The union representing nurses has been sparring with the six-metro hospitals chain over wages and staffing levels in a new three-year contract. Despite the presence of a federal mediator, the two sides broke off talks last week.
Hospitals say they are ready, having hired 2,800 temporary replacement nurses. Nevertheless, patients needing non-emergency care like surgeries will likely face delays or cancellations.
“In the event of a strike, changes to patient schedules are expected,” according to a statement by Allina Hospitals & Clinics. “Once we receive notice from the union and begin ramping down operations in preparation for the strike, we will have a better understanding of how many patients will be affected. During that time frame, patients with existing appointments or surgeries will be notified of any changes and assisted in making alternate arrangements.”
While the hospitals could lock out the nurses, it will not do so.
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“Nurses are a critical part of the healthcare team and we are committed to calling nurses back to work as operations return to normal following the strike,” the Allina statement said. “While we may disagree with the nurses’ union over key points of the current contract negotiations, we are all still part of a team that is committed to providing some of the safest, highest-quality care in the nation.”
The Minnesota Nurses Association plans to picket the following hospitals:
- Abbott Northwestern – Minneapolis
- Phillips Eye Institute – Minneapolis
- Children’s – Minneapolis
- United Hospital – St. Paul
- Children’s – St. Paul
- St. Joseph’s – St. Paul
- Bethesda – St. Paul
- Fairview Riverside – Minneapolis
- Fairview Southdale – Edina
- Mercy – Coon Rapids
- Unity – Fridley
- St. John’s – Maplewood
- Park Nicollet Methodist – St. Louis Park
- North Memorial – Robbinsdale
