Participating in History
Participating in Minnesota’s largest nursing strike just eight weeks after joining a unionized hospital.
Monday, July 25, 2022. I walked into the neonatal intensive care unit for my first day of on-the-job training.
Monday, August 15, 2022. I walked through the doors and was greeted by my union representative, who I had never met because our introductory meeting would be in two days. I and 15,000+ nurses cast their ballot for a go or no-go vote for striking.
Monday, September 12, 2022. I walked the picket line with my fiance, friends, and 15,000+ nurses across the state.
Thursday, September 14, 2022. I walked back onto my unit with my fellow nurses as we were mentally prepared to continue work without a new contract and no changes in working conditions.
Wednesday, November 30, 2022. I, along with 1500+ nurses, walked back into the voting room and authorized a 4-week strike starting set to start Sunday, December 11, 2022.
Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Nurses reach tentative agreements on three-year contracts to retain nurses at the bedside, avert planned strike
To say my introduction to the union was a whirlwind could be considered an understatement of the year. But what exactly happened?
In September 2022, Minnesota experienced a significant event in the healthcare industry, as nurses went on strike to demand better working conditions, higher pay, and updated contract language/legislation to ensure safe staffing and higher pay. The strike, which lasted for three days, had a profound impact on the healthcare system in Minnesota. This article will explore the causes of the Minnesota nurses' strike, its impact, and its outcome.
The causes of the Minnesota nurses' strike can be traced back to longstanding issues within the healthcare industry. Nurses, who play a critical role in patient care, have been experiencing significant stress and burnout due to the demanding nature of their work, which the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated. Many nurses have been working long hours with few breaks and facing constant pressure to care for an ever-increasing number of patients. Furthermore, nurses have a long history of inadequate pay and benefits and a lack of respect and recognition for their contributions to the healthcare system. Many nurses in Minnesota have been working without a contract as negotiations with their employers, which started in March 2022, have stalled.
In response to these issues, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) organized a strike, calling its members to stop work and demand better working conditions and higher pay. The strike, which began on Monday, September 12, 2022, affected numerous healthcare facilities across Minnesota’s Twin Cities and Twin Ports, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.
The strike's impact was significant, as hospitals and clinics struggled to provide care without their regular nursing staff. Some facilities were forced to cancel non-emergency procedures and appointments, while others brought temporary nurses from out of state to try and fill the gaps. Patients and their families were left concerned and confused about the availability of care, and many expressed frustration with the ongoing labor dispute.
What happened after the strike?
Nothing changed. No agreement was made after the 3-day strike, but because the strike length of the strike was pre-determined, we all walked back onto our units on Thursday, September 14, 2022. Continuing to work without contracts, nurses became increasingly frustrated with hospital executives and leadership as no progress was being made. On Wednesday, November 30th, 2022, nurses voted to authorize a second strike, set to start Sunday, December 11, 2022 and would last for four weeks. On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, just 5 days prior to the set start of the second strike and nine months of negotiations between the MNA and healthcare employers, a tentative agreement was made.
After, the new contract included significant wage increases for nurses and improved benefits and working conditions. The agreement was seen as a victory for the MNA, which had been pushing for these changes for months.
“This tentative agreement is a historic win for nurses and patients at the bedside,” said Mary C. Turner, RN at North Memorial Hospital and President of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “For years, hospital executives have been pushing nurses out of the profession by under-staffing our units and under-valuing our nurses. This tentative agreement will help to keep nurses at the bedside, where we will keep fighting to oppose the corporate healthcare policies which threaten our hospital systems and the care our patients deserve.” (Johnson, et. al., 2022).
What is in agreement? According to the union, the key pieces of the tentative agreements are pay raises that break down to:
18% pay raises over 3 years for nurses in the Twin Cities
17% pay raises for Twin Ports nurses
Pay will be retroactive up to the previous contract’s expiration
The pay raises are the largest won by MNA nurses in over two decades
Prevent reductions in staffing levels without consensus between nurses and management
Help protect nurses from discipline when they raise concerns about unsafe assignments
Trigger reviews of staffing levels by nurses and management in response to key measures of patient and nurse well-being and outcomes
In conclusion, the Minnesota nurses' strike in September 2022 highlighted the ongoing issues within the healthcare industry, including nurse burnout, inadequate pay and benefits, and a lack of respect for nurses' contributions. While the strike caused significant disruption to the healthcare system, it ultimately led to an agreement that addressed many of the nurses' concerns. However, it remains to be seen whether these changes will be enough to prevent future labor disputes in the healthcare industry.
References
Johnson, P., Rademacher, B., Lease, L., Harshman, C. O., & Cuppy, P. (2022, December 6). Nurses reach tentative agreements on three-year contracts. Minnesota Nurses Association. https://mnnurses.org/nurses-reach-tentative-agreements-on-three-year-contracts-to-retain-nurses-at-the-bedside-avert-planned-strike/