On Friday, it was the sixth-day strike of Allina’s nurses. After a strike that started on June 19, it seems like Allina’s nurses would return to work on Sunday.
The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) went on strike last June 19 due to disagreements with Allina health care system about new contract disposals. Allina nurses’ contracts expired on May 31 and since then, MNA is not satisfied with health care changes Allina aims to include in the new three-year contract. Health care changes are allegedly linked to a possible change to nurses’ health insurance.
“Well-prepared to make the transition (of nurses returning to work) as seamlessly as possible. After tomorrow our attention will again go back to getting back to the bargaining table, having a constructive dialog with the union, and reaching an agreement that is fair and sustainable for all,” said Allina Health President and CEO, Dr. Penny Wheeler, after a week of nurses’ strike.
Striking nurses agreed to return to work because another round of negotiations was promised to solve the situation. Even though, they are not happy at all with the resolution.
“We’re here because Allina won’t talk about our proposals and won’t give us the information we need to address their proposals. They’re just not talking, even though we’ve heard they’re holding press conferences every day. They’ve told the reporters things they won’t tell the nurses. That’s not fair negotiations,” said Angie Becchetti, a nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
1,400 replacement nurses were hired during the weeklong strike
After last Sunday Allina hospital run out of nurses, the health care institution hired about 1,400 replacement nurses to work during the strike.
Allina officials declared that even if the hospital counts with fewer nurses on staff, patient’s care have been adequately carried out, and workflow has been as normal as usual during the strike week.
However, Angela Bechetti, MNA member said that it has been very shocking for the striking nurses to hear that their patients are not receiving health care. Even more, according to Bechetti, replacement nurses have been working in different areas from their actual specialty, which means that these nurses’ negligent work might represent a risk for patient’s health.
Such statements were immediately denied by Allina’s officials who guaranteed that every replacement nurse is qualified to the job and that each one of them has been located into the field where they belong.
Complaints or allegations from both parts have not yet been confirmed. In the meantime, the most affected ones: patients, claim for a soon resolution to the conflict.
It is expected that most of the striking nurses get back to work on Sunday.
Source: Fox 9