MINNESOTA NURSING Accent Fall 2016 | Volume 88 No. 3

SUMMER STORM MNA Nurses’ Strike Number 2

In this issue • Negotiations and politics go together like peanut butter and jelly - page 2 • It’s Convention! - page 5 – 7 • MNA nurses on strike - page 19 2 nursing accent

Minnesota Nursing Accent Cover Story Minnesota Nurses Association 345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200 Saint Paul, MN 55102 Politics and collective bargaining 651-414-2800/800-536-4662 Fall 2016 are like peanut butter and jelly PUBLISHER Imagine how much easier life would be if you could elect your own boss. Or your Rose Roach MANAGING EDITORS boss’ boss. Barb Brady In a nutshell, that’s how politics and collective bargaining intersect. Chris Reinke The people we elect to public office hold great power over our working lives by set- BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: ting policies that affect healthcare, our workplaces, public health, unions, and our nursing Mary Turner, RN licenses. 1st Vice President: Just look at Wisconsin, where the governor and Legislature have severely undermined Bernadine Engeldorf, RN 2nd Vice President: unions in a very short period of time. Deb Haugen, RN The connection between politics and contracts is especially important in 2016, as Secretary: Jennifer Michelson, RN many of MNA’s bargaining units are in difficult contract negotiations, and important elec- Treasurer: tions are this November. Judy Russell-Martin, RN Electing legislators who support nursing issues, whether Republican, Democrat or In- Directors: dependent, is increasingly important. Here are some examples: Sandie Anderson, RN Laurie Bahr, RN Allina negotiations Amy Buggert, RN MNA nurse negotiations with Allina and Twin Ports Essentia this year are a perfect Pat Dwyer, RN Tammy Fritze, RN example of the importance of politics in our lives. Jody Haggy, RN During the course of the Allina and Essentia campaigns we have had more than 75 Elaina Hane, RN elected officials and candidates join members on the picket line to show support. Melissa Hansing, RN Robin Henderson, RN Additionally, we have had dozens more send letters and make phone calls to Allina Diane Johnson, RN asking them to bargain a fair contract with MNA nurses. Susan Kreitz, RN Each of these elected officials has used his or her own political capital to help push Sarah Lake, RN Candy Matzke, RN Allina toward compromise with nurses. Doreen McIntyre, RN Additionally, they have shown Allina nurses that, not only is the public with them, so Theresa Peterson, RN Katherine Quarles, RN are many power brokers across the state. Juli Uzlik, RN Track replacement nurses Office Hours: MNA used information from the Minnesota Board of Nursing to track the number of Monday-Friday 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. temporary nursing licenses issued to replacement workers before the Allina ULP nurses Subscriptions Published: strike in June. March, June, September, December This valuable information helped us measure when Allina started to hire replace- Opinions ments and how many nurses they were hiring, which helped us in planning. All opinions submitted are subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves It also helped us to identify “bad apple” nurses after the fact. the right to refuse any advertising content which does not meet standards of acceptance And if MNA had not worked to elect nurse-friendly legislators who then worked to of the Minnesota Nurses Association. help prevent the nurse licensure compact from coming to Minnesota, this wouldn’t have Minnesota Nursing Accent been the case. (ISSN 0026-5586) is published four times annually by the Instead, we wouldn’t know anything about the replacement workers, including where Minnesota Nurses Association they were from, who they were and when they were coming. 345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200, Saint Paul, MN 55102. In short, we would have lost valuable information and put patients at higher risk. Periodicals Postage paid at Saint Paul, MN and additional mailing Stop anti-union proposals offices. Postmaster, please send address Just this past session, an anti-union legislator proposed a bill that would hurt collec- changes to: Minnesota Nurses Association 345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200 Political and collective bargaining cont. on page 17 Saint Paul, MN 55102. 3 minnesota nursing accent

Executive Director’s Column Why are we involved in politics? One of the most common questions I hear from MNA vember. It’s time we finally get safe nurses is, “Why are nurses and unions involved in politics?” staffing in all hospitals. They tell me MNA is a professional organization and should fo- There’s also a direct connection cus only on the nursing practice. between contract negotiations and My answer is that involvement in politics is focusing on our political involvement. the nursing practice. We must elect and work with people who Just look at the number of elected support nurses in order to advocate for our patients and the officials who showed up at the Allina nursing profession. and Essentia picket lines this summer. Nurses see the effects of public policies – good and bad – Their presence and words of encouragement show the at the bedside every day. Nurses know what needs to change. value of MNA nurses supporting pro-nurse candidates. There’s no one more qualified to speak up for patients than MNA nurse door knocking, phone banking, lobbying at RNs. It’s not only what nurses have done throughout history the Capitol, and building relationships with elected officials do – it’s a responsibility nurses take very seriously. We’ve been at work. the forefront of social change for generations. They are listening to us. That’s the first step in winning Nurses advocate for patients at the bedside and in the legislation that benefits our patients, our profession, and our community. Nurses are involved in many issues, such as sin- communities. gle-payer healthcare, a $15 minimum wage, and earned sick and safe time because they directly affect patients and public health. We know that poverty and limited access to healthcare Roach named to state healthcare leader list are factors in people’s health. So fighting for policies that lift MNA Executive Director Rose Roach was honored as one of people out of poverty makes absolute sense for nurses. the state’s top healthcare leaders by a physician’s publication in For instance, I represent MNA nurses as the co-chair of the August. St. Paul Earned Safe and Sick Time Task Force, which studied Roach is one of Minnesota Physician’s 100 influential Minne- and made recommendations on extending earned sick and sota healthcare leaders. safe time to all employees in the city. I know that nurses care Minnesota Physician releases the list every four years to rec- deeply about the health of their communities because they ognize “100 leaders who help make healthcare in Minnesota a see health as a public good, so ensuring that workers have ac- global model of excellence.” cess to earned safe and sick time fits that vision. Each was asked to answer questions about changes and Policy changes come from the people we elect to office at challenges in healthcare. Here are Executive Director Roach’s all levels. We must elect candidates who support nurse issues comments: and will back our positions after they’re in office. That’s the Changes: For decades, we have promoted effective RN staffing only way to make real change for our patients and our profes- and safe working conditions for both patients and registered sion. nurses in direct patient care, policy, and political arenas. In 2015, We know the Safe Patient Standard battle, MNA’s top pri- we partnered with police officers to create a law that established ority, will be won at the legislative level and not at the bargain- violence committees, preparedness plans, and de-escalation ing table, no matter what some people may say. training. We also worked on system reforms to recognize health- Imagine if we could persuade the Legislature to create a care as a human right. Safe Patient Standard! We could stop fighting at the negotiat- Challenges: We want a Safe Patient Standard based on a nurse’s ing table for safe staffing and focus on other important issues. professional judgment of acuity, census, and daily needs. We What a relief that would be! need procedures to keep healthcare workers and patients safe In the meantime, MNA nurses keep trying to negotiate from violent assaults in hospitals. We want to focus legislative, safe staffing in contracts throughout Minnesota this year, but educational, and organizing efforts by advocating for the creation management is often unwilling to even discuss the issue. of universal publicly financed, privately delivered healthcare. That’s why we need pro-nurse candidates elected this No- Congratulations Rose! 4 minnesota nursing accent

MNA Organizational Goals and President’s Column Priorities for 2016 MNA Mission Statement 1. Promote the professional, economic, and personal Vote nurses’ values: Convention 2016 well-being of nurses. I used to believe that you have to be a Democrat 2. Uphold and advance excellence, integrity, and autonomy in the practice of nursing. to be involved in MNA because we only support Dem- 3. Advocate for quality care that is accessible and ocratic candidates and issues. affordable for all. The purpose of the Minnesota Nurses Association, a union As a born-and-raised Republican, it was easy to of professional nurses with unrestricted RN membership, buy into that myth and stay out of union activities. shall be to advance the professional, economic, and gen- eral well-being of nurses and to promote the health and However, in 2010 I received my wake-up call! well-being of the public. These purposes shall be unre- Metro nurses were fighting for their contract, stricted by considerations of age, color, creed, disability, gender, health status, lifestyle, nationality, race, religion, or and it was time for me to finally get involved. sexual orientation. I learned that no matter which political party MNA Strategic Goals you support, nurse issues are not partisan issues that 1. MNA empowers registered nurses to use their collective strength, knowledge, and experience fighting for our patients, our profession, and the public’s health were a re- to advance and enhance safe and professional nursing practice, nursing leadership, and the sponsibility of all nurses. community health and well-being. MNA welcomes everyone, no matter what political party you support. 2. MNA exemplifies a positive, powerful union of professional nurses that advances nursing and Our issues are not partisan issues – they are nurse, patient, and public health patient interests. issues. Nurses must work together for issues important to all of us no matter 3. MNA promotes effective RN staffing and safe working conditions for both patients and what political party you support. registered nurses in direct patient care, in policy My journey to getting involved in MNA actually goes back to May 2001, and political arenas, and in our communities. 4. MNA increases membership and participation when Metro nurses were gearing up for a citywide strike. I remember stand- as a union of professional nurses through effective internal and external organizing, ing at the elevator banks at 3 a.m. one day. It was like a ghost town. Our hos- member activism, education, and mobilization. pital was emptying out because nurses wouldn’t be there. 5. MNA actively promotes social justice, cultural diversity, and the health, security, and That’s when I had a revelation: Without nurses, the hospitals would have well-being of all in its organizational programs to close their doors. Nurses have power. Since then, I’ve never been afraid to and in collaboration with partner organizations. 6. MNA, in solidarity with the National Nurses speak out for our profession anywhere and any time – from lobbying legisla- United and the AFL-CIO, will promote the tors to knocking on doors for candidates who support nurses to walking picket rights of patients, nurses, and workers across the United States. lines. 2016 Organizational Priorities Nurses are a force to be reckoned with and we can accomplish anything 1. All activities of the MNA will incorporate the principles when we stand together. of the Main Street Contract approved by the MNA House of Delegates in 2011. There’s no better use of our education and experience than to make sure 2. Position MNA for negotiations from strength across the policies and laws that govern us create a better world for our patients, our Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. 3. Organize to increase MNA membership and profession, and our world. That means electing candidates who stand with us. continue to increase solidarity and participation I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for nurses to get involved in of membership locally, regionally, and nationally. 4. Work to elect politicians who will implement electing candidates who understand our issues and are willing to work with nurse-friendly public policy, including safe staffing, a healthcare system that includes everyone and us no matter whether they are Democrats or Republicans. excludes no one, and single payor healthcare I urge every member to work for those candidates. Make some phone legislation. 5. Build solidarity to promote and support NNU and the calls. Knock on some doors. It’s rewarding and fun! AFL-CIO to advance labor nursing issues. This year’s Convention and House of Delegates will also give you plenty of 6. Assess risks and actively oppose any attacks on nursing practice and workers’ rights, including any opportunities to get involved. attempts of deskilling of the Professional nurse’s scope Our theme of “Vote Nurses’ Values: Caring, Compassion, Community” of practice and right-to-work legislation. 7. Continue MNA’s campaign for patient safety to ensure highlights the importance of elections. Delegates will learn about our issues, the integrity of nursing practice, nursing practice environments, and advance safe patient staffing the importance of voting, and reach out to voters on behalf of our endorsed standards and principles. candidates with some special activities. Vote nurses’ values cont. on page 17 5 minnesota nursing accent

VOTE caring • compassion • community

N U S E R CONVENTION 2016 S LU ES’ VA 2016 MNA Convention and House of Delegates October 9-11, 2016 Radisson Blu Mall of America, Bloomington Vote Nurses’ Values: Caring, Compassion, Community

Whether you’re going to the MNA Convention and and friends who have done outstanding work on behalf of House of Delegates for the first or the 30th time, you’ll go nurses, the nursing profession, and our patients. home feeling inspired and energized with the mix of fun, After the awards banquet, comedian C Willi Myles, learning, and business. “America’s Everyday Comedian,” will keep you laughing Since the Convention is only a few weeks before the with his quick wit and great sense of humor in a high-ener- November 8 elections, the theme revolves around electing gy, side-splitting show for all ages. candidates who support nurses’ values. You’ll learn about Other highlights include a history exhibit, a silent auc- issues important to nurses, the candidates we’ve endorsed, tion to benefit MNA’s Disaster Relief Fund, exhibits, a Meet and take part in activities to engage local voters. & Greet with your MNA Board of Directors members, and Education sessions (free contact hours are available): much more. • Vote Nurses’ Values: key nursing issues in this There’s still time to register – go to Events on MNA’s year’s elections website at www.mnnurses.org for more information. • Safe Patient Standard • Climate change • Compassionate Care Act • Global solutions to health coverage • Racial disparities in healthcare House of Delegates You’ll have the opportunity to make decisions that guide MNA for the next year. Members propose and de- bate ideas as part of MNA’s highest decision-making body. You can find proposed bylaw and resolution changes in the Member Center of MNA’s website at www.mnnurses.org. On Monday, be sure to attend the Honors & Awards banquet, where we say a special “thank you” to members 6 minnesota nursing accent

Minnesota Nurses Association Minnesota NursesConvention Schedule Association 2016 (Tentative - Conventionsubject to change) Schedule

Session Name Start Time End Time Location Sunday, October 9 Yoga 7:00 a.m. 7:45 a.m. Nokomis C Registration / Information 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Lakes Coatroom Breakfast 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Lakes Ballroom C and D and Skybridge Informational Tables and History Display 9:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer Education: End of Life Options Act 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Nokomis B and C Education: Climate Change 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Break 10:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer Education: End of Life Options Act 10:15 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Nokomis B and C Education: Climate Change 10:15 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Commission on Governmental Affairs Meeting 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Nokomis B Lunch 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom C and D and Skybridge Delegate Briefing 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Bylaws and Resolutions Forum 1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Legislative Forum 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Silent Auction Begins 3:30 p.m. Nokomis B and C Break 3:00 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer Action 3:15 p.m. 5:15 p.m. Dinner 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Lakes Ballroom C and D and Foyer Friends of Bill W Meeting 6:45 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Nokomis C Board Meet and Greet 7:00 p.m. ? SkyBridge Monday, October 10 Yoga 7:00 a.m. 7:45 a.m. Nokomis C Registration / Information 7:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Lakes Coatroom Breakfast 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Lakes Ballroom C and D and Skybridge Retirees Breakfast 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Informational Tables and History Display 9:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer House of Delegates Opening Ceremonies 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Break 10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer Plenary: Advocating for Nurses' Values 10:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Lunch 11:45 a.m. 12:45 p.m. Lakes Ballroom C and D and Skybridge Education: Racial Disparities in Healthcare 12:45 p.m. 1:45 p.m. Nokomis B and C Education: Global Solutions to Health Coverage 12:45 p.m. 1:45 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B House of Delegates 1:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Break 3:15 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer Education: Racial Disparities in Healthcare 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Nokomis B and C Education: Global Solutions to Health Coverage 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Reference Committee Meeting (if needed) 4:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m. Nokomis B Friends of Bill W Meeting 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Nokomis C Award Recipient's Reception 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. SkyBridge Honors and Awards Banquet 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom B, C, and D Entertainment 8:30 p.m. ? Lakes Ballroom B, C, and D Tuesday, October 11 Yoga 7:00 a.m. 7:45 a.m. Nokomis C Registration / Information 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Lakes Coatroom Breakfast with Education Sponsored by the MNA Ethics Committee Book Club 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Lakes Ballroom C and D and Skybridge Informational Tables and History Display 9:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer Vote Nurses Values 2016: Effective Volunteer Recruitment 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Vote Nurses Values 2016: Tactics - How Long-Form Conversations 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Nokomis B and C Can Change Politics As Usual Break 10:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer Vote Nurses Values 2016: Tactics - How Long-Form Conversations 10:15 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Nokomis B and C Can Change Politics As Usual Vote Nurses Values 2016: Effective Volunteer Recruitment 10:15 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Lunch 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom C and D and Skybridge House of Delegates 12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Silent Auction Ends 12:45 p.m. Plenary: Safe Patient Standard 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Break 3:00 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Lakes Ballroom Foyer House of Delegates 3:15 p.m. 4:45 p.m. Lakes Ballroom A and B Silent Auction Item Pickup 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Lakes Coatroom

9/20/16 7 minnesota nursing accent

Everyday comedian headlines entertainment Stick around after the Honors and Awards Banquet for C. Willi Myles, “America’s Everyday Comedian.”

Willi tells extremely funny non-offensive stories and jokes and gives a unique spin to life’s everyday challenges by applying humor to them.

He has the gift of connecting people with each other through humor and storytelling that everyone can relate to.

End your day with a chuckle!

Monday, October 10 8:30 p.m. Lakes Ballroom B, C, and D C. Willi Myles 8 minnesota nursing accent

November 8 is Senate Endorsed Candidates pivotal date District Name Title Party The stakes are high for nurses in the 1 Kip Fontaine Senate Candidate DFL November 8 elections. 2 Rod Skoe Senator DFL The people elected to office will make 3 Senator DFL 4 Senator DFL decisions that have a direct effect on 5 Tom Saxhaug Senator DFL healthcare, nurses, and public health. 6 Senator DFL That’s why MNA nurses have en- 7 Erik Simonson Senate Candidate DFL dorsed candidates who support our issues 8 Shawn Olson Senate Candidate DFL and are actively working to make sure 11 Tony Lourey Senator DFL those people are elected in November. 12 Russ Hinrichs Senate Candidate DFL 13 Michael Willemsen Senate Candidate DFL The fate of important issues like the 14 Dan Wolgamott Senate Candidate DFL safe staffing, workplace violence preven- 17 Lyle Koenen Senator DFL tion, affordable healthcare for all, and 18 Amy Wilde Senate Candidate DFL fighting the Nursing Compact will be de- 19 Senate Candidate DFL cided by the people we elect to office. 20 Kevin Dahle Senator DFL All MNA nurses are urged to actively 26 Richard Wright Senate Candidate DFL 29 Janice Kittok Senate Candidate DFL support those candidates – the outcome 32 Tim Nelson Senate Candidate DFL affects us all. 34 Bonnie Westlin Senate Candidate DFL If every nurse volunteered for just one 35 Senator GOP session of door knocking, phone calling, 36 John Hoffman Senator DFL or other ways of showing support, we 37 Jerry Newton Senate Candidate DFL would go a long way toward making sure 40 Senator DFL pro-nurses candidates are in office next 41 Senate Candidate DFL 43 Chuck Wiger Senator DFL January. 44 Deborah Calvert Senate Candidate DFL Please contact Katie Gjertson at Katie. 45 Senator DFL [email protected] (651) 414-2832; 47 Darryl Scarborough Senate Candidate DFL or Eileen Gavin at Eileen.Gavin@mnnurs- 48 Senate Candidate DFL es.org or (651) 414-2871 to get started. 49 Halvorson Senator DFL MNA nurses are key to victory in No- 50 Melisa Wiklund Senator DFL 51 Jim Carlson Senator DFL vember. We can make a difference! 52 Matthew Klein Senate Candidate DFL 54 Dan Schoen Senate Candidate DFL 57 Senator DFL 58 Matt Little Senate Candidate DFL 59 Bobby Jo Champion Senator DFL 60 Senator DFL 61 Scott Dibble Senator DFL 64 Senator DFL 65 SandyPappas Senator DFL 66 Senator DFL 9 minnesota nursing accent

House Endorsed Candidates District Name Title Party District Name Title Party 02B Bryan Klabunde Representative Candidate DFL 38A Kevin Fogarty Representative Candidate DFL 03A Rob Ecklund Representative DFL 38B Ami Wazlawik Representative Candidate DFL 03B Mary Murphy Representative DFL 39A Jody Anderson Representative Candidate DFL 05A John Persell Representative DFL 39B Alan Kantrud Representative Candidate DFL 05B Tom Anzelc Representative DFL 40A Michael Nelson Representative DFL 06A Julie Sandstede Representative Candidate DFL 40B Debra Hilstrom Representative DFL 06B Jason Metsa Representative DFL 41A Connie Bernardy Representative DFL 07A Jennifer Schultz Representative DFL 41B Mary Kunesh-Podein Representative Candidate DFL 07B Liz Olson Representative Candidate DFL 42A Barb Yarusso Representative DFL 08A CJ Holl Representative Candidate DFL 42B Jamie Becker-Finn Representative Candidate DFL 08B Gail Kulp Representative Candidate DFL 43A Peter Fischer Representative DFL 09A Meg Litts Representative Candidate DFL 43B Leon Lillie Representative DFL 09B Dustin Simmonds Representative Candidate DFL 44A Ginny Klevorn Representative Candidate DFL 10A Quinn Nystrom Representative Candidate DFL 44B Jon Applebaum Representative DFL 10B Erin Wagner Representative Candidate DFL 45A Lyndon Carlson Representative DFL 11A Mike Sundin Representative DFL 45B Mike Freiberg Representative DFL 11B Tom Jones Representative Candidate DFL 46A Peggy Flanagan Representative DFL 12A Jay McNamar Representative Candidate DFL 46B Cheryl Youakim Representative DFL 14A Representative Candidate DFL 49A Ron Erhardt Representative DFL 14B Zach Dorholt Representative Candidate DFL 49B Paul Rosenthal Representative DFL 15A Kent Lestrud Representative Candidate DFL 50A Linda Slocum Representative DFL 15B Karla Scapanski Representative Candidate DFL 50B Andrew Carlson Representative Candidate DFL 16A Al Kruse Representative Candidate DFL 51A Sandra Masin Representative DFL 16B Austin Grossenburg Representative Candidate DFL 52B Mary T’Kach Representative Candidate DFL 17A Andrew Falk Representative Candidate DFL 53A JoAnn Ward Representative DFL 17B Mary Sawatzky Representative Candidate DFL 54A Jen Peterson Representative Candidate DFL 18B Darrel Mosel Representative Candidate DFL 54B Don Slaten Representative Candidate DFL 19A Clark Johnson Representative DFL 55A Mary Hernandez Representative Candidate DFL 19B Jack Considine Representative DFL 56A Jared Christiansen Representative Candidate DFL 20B David Bly Representative DFL 56B Representative Candidate DFL 21A Lisa Bayley Representative Candidate DFL 57A Erin Maye Quade Representative Candidate DFL 21B Elise Diesslin Representative Candidate DFL 57B John Huot Representative Candidate DFL 22B Rod Hamilton Representative GOP 59A Fue Lee Representative Candidate DFL 23A Zac Huntley Representative Candidate DFL 60A Diane Loeffler Representative DFL 24A Bev Cashman Representative Candidate DFL 60B Ilhan Omar Representative Candidate DFL 24B Patti Fritz Representative Candidate DFL 61A Frank Hornstein Representative DFL 25A Linda Walbruch Representative Candidate DFL 61B Paul Thissen Representative DFL 26B John Wayne Austinson Representative Candidate DFL 62A Karen Clark Representative DFL 28A Gene Pelowski Representative DFL 62B Susan Allen Representative DFL 29A Cortney Phillips Representative Candidate DFL 63A Jim Davnie Representative DFL 29B Steve Kilburn Representative Candidate DFL 63B Jean Wagenius Representative DFL 30B Margaret Fernandez Representative Candidate DFL 64A Representative DFL 31B Susan Larson Representative Candidate DFL 64B Dave Pinto Representative DFL 32A Paul Gammel Representative Candidate DFL 65A Rena Moran Representative DFL 32B Laurie Warner Representative Candidate DFL 66A Alice Hausman Representative DFL 33B Brad Brothen Representative Candidate DFL 66B John Lesch Representative DFL 34A Dave Craig Representative Candidate DFL 67A Tim Mahoney Representative DFL 34B Kristin Bahner Representative Candidate DFL 67B Sheldon Johnson Representative DFL 35A Andy Hillebregt Representative Candidate DFL 36A Kevin Parker Representative Candidate DFL 36B Melissa Hortman Representative DFL 37A Erin Koegel Representative Candidate DFL 37B Susan Witt Representative Candidate DFL 10 minnesota nursing accent

At the Capitol Why I get involved in elections Governmental Affairs Commission Update Hi! I’m Deb Haugen. I am a Registered Nurse in the Neo- natal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital - Minneapolis. I By Barbara Forshier, Chair, RN, BSN, JD, CPAN Staff nurse United Hospital serve as Second Vice President of MNA and Chair of MNA’s Po- litical Committee, the sub-group of our Board of Directors that The Governmental Affairs Commission has been gearing up makes decisions about the level of our union’s involvement in for the elections and the 2017 Legislative Session in the last few political campaigns. months. I see our profession impacted by the rules, regulations, and We have been studying and discussing the issues we’ll ad- laws written by our elected officials on a daily basis. Working vocate for in the next session. Much of our planning depends short-staffed, families coming to the Emergency Room because on what happens in the November 8 elections, so we also are they couldn’t afford preventive care, and even our right to have working on member involvement in the elections. a union and a contract are all examples of how our profession is Safe staffing will once again be a top priority in the 2017 affected by the people who get elected. Legislative Session, as MNA continues to campaign for a Safe Pa- It is important for us to be involved at all stages of policy tient Standard. The Concern for Safe Staffing forms that nurses change: from the political campaigns to lobbying our legislators fill out are a critical tool for showing legislators real examples of at MNA’s Day on the Hill. the need for this legislation. We’re urging all MNA nurses to fill The decision to become involved in politics for me became out the forms any time you have an unsafe situation and be sure clear when we, as nurses, decided that we needed to expand to take the second step of sending it to your legislators as well. our staffing campaign strategy beyond the bargaining table to They are on the MNA website at http://cfss.mnnurses.org// include a legislative approach. The July GAC meeting was in Duluth on the same day as When we get pushback from elected officials who say staff- MNA nurses at Essentia hospitals held an informational picket. ing should be resolved with employers through collective bar- We had a great turnout and look forward to more learning and gaining, not the Legislature, I say to them: all patients and staff planning in the future! in noncontract facilities deserve the same high quality of care. After our meeting, we joined the picket line to show our sol- My resolve to get involved in the political process increased idarity with Essentia nurses in Duluth and Superior. It was very as I saw my ability to impact our profession through the Nurse rewarding to stand with Essentia nurses, who were in difficult Practice Act and protect our practice through collective bar- contract negotiations. We were all impressed with the great gaining rights. turnout at the picket and the solidarity of MNA members! I am volunteering this fall because I am not willing to let Commissioners are planning events and our information- healthcare policy decisions be made without my input. It starts al table at the Convention and Representative Assembly, GAC with who gets elected this fall to represent us at the State Capi- members will play a large role at the Convention, leading the tol. I encourage you to volunteer with me as I make phone calls Legislative Forum and election action on Sunday, Oct. 9. to other MNA RNs about our staffing campaign and the candi- We will emphasize the importance of nurses talking to their dates who will stand with us, or knock on doors and visit with colleagues and getting out to door knock and make phone calls union families about our shared values. Reaching out and hav- on behalf of candidates we endorse. ing conversations with voters is what wins elections and I know, The Convention is Oct. 9-11 at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington. for me, it matters who gets elected. So, join me and volunteer today! 11 minnesota nursing accent

Ethics Committee Update The ethical dilemmas in a for-profit healthcare is largely driven by profit. I encourage all of you to read it and educate yourselves on the challenges to fixing healthcare model healthcare. By Sarah Manning, RN, MNA Ethics Committee Member Since when did healthcare become all about money? Providing quality care is always my top priority. However, when hospitals adopt a healthcare model based on profit, it becomes incredibly difficult for nurses to deliver effective care. We are rushed, short-staffed, and often overworked. It is incredibly stressful, but most importantly, it is unsafe for our patients. The quality of care diminishes when nurses are put in such situations. On top of this, big corporate “nonprofit” hospital sys- tems, such as Allina Health, want to further overwhelm their nurses by attempting to take away our valued health insur- Ethics Book Club ance plans. I find it incredibly ironic that a healthcare insti- I don’t pretend to be a healthcare policy expert. I don’t tution would want to diminish benefits for the very group of even pretend to be an expert in nursing; I graduated from people who provide that care. Just because they can. This is nursing school in May 2015 and have been working at Allina beyond frustrating. Health’s United Hospital in St. Paul for just over a year. Without a doubt, our healthcare system needs an over- In that year, I have come to learn what nursing is really haul. But what can an individual do? A lot. MNA members about. It’s about caring for patients with compassion and can continue to advocate for Safe Patient Standard legisla- honesty. It’s about educating patients and empowering them tion. Enacting legislation that limits the number of patients to take control of their lives. I feel so honored and proud to nurses can care for at one time would be a huge win in the be a nurse. battle against corporate healthcare. You can volunteer to Lately, though, I have started to notice the dark side of phone bank or door knock on behalf of MNA-endorsed can- healthcare in the U.S. didates who support this legislation. I believe that healthcare is a basic human right rather The first step to changing the corrupt healthcare system than a privilege for those who can afford it. I believe people is to educate yourself and refuse to be a part of that system. should feel secure and comforted by the fact that they have Every time you refuse an unsafe assignment or demand health insurance. Yet many people fear the day they become your break, you are taking a stand against the profit-driven ill and can no longer work. healthcare industry. Most of all, let’s stay united and stand up Since our health insurance is tied to employment, this for what is right - on a picket line, on strike, and during every spells disaster for people with illnesses or injuries who can- shift. Let’s disrupt this profit-driven system! not work while undergoing treatment. More than 60 percent of bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to medical expenses, even after the Affordable Care Act went into effect. It baffles me that something as basic as healthcare comes with such a monstrous price. Why is that? I am especially passionate about biomedical ethics, so I joined the MNA Ethics Book Club which recently read “Ameri- ca’s Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System” by Steven Brill. The author explores the complexities of the American healthcare system and how it fails to deliver effective health- care. One central message I took away was that today’s 12 minnesota nursing accent

MNA nurse negotiations with metro Allina hospitals has captured the LABOR ADVOCACY headlines this summer, but other MNA bargaining units are also Summer negotiations negotiating or have ratified new contracts. Here’s a summary: Dakota County Public Health Pipestone County Medical Center MNA nurses at the Dakota County Public Health Department MNA nurses at Pipestone Coun- ratified a new contract in June. ty Medical Center in southwestern Highlights include annual salary increases, improvements to Minnesota ratified a new three-year the Merit Matrix, and a Market Retention Adjustment, which will contract in June that includes wage in- boost many members’ salaries to a competitive minimum and creases; a reduction in health insurance help to decrease the amount of time that it takes to reach the top premiums; and moving the salary chart of the pay scale. from 2080 hours to 1872 hours, man- Nurses were especially happy with increases in the merit ma- datory time off language, and preceptor language. trix and the market retention wage adjustment to make wages “We had a strong union group and went in with definitive more competitive. needs,” said Bargaining Unit Co-Chair Kimberlee Drew, who says Dakota County hires nurses who only stay a short time and negotiating a reduction in the number of hours worked in a year to then take jobs in the area that pay higher wages. The constant qualify for a step increase was a major victory, especially for nurses turnover falls on the shoulders of remaining nurses who then who work 12-hour shifts. have to pick up the extra work. “That was huge for us,” according to Drew. “12-hour nurses “The process went well and people are happy with the out- will get their step increases sooner, which should help retain nurses come,” said Bargaining Unit Co-Chair Jennifer Julson. at our facility.” Drew says she proposed the idea even though she was not Clearwater County sure it would be accepted. Now her advice to all MNA nurses is to After nine months of stop-and-go negotiations that included go for your ideas – they may become reality. the use of a state mediator, Clearwater County nurses reached “I learned there’s a lot of give and take, but you can come a tentative agreement on a new, three-year contract on August to agreement,” said first-time negotiating team member Janet 12. The settlement includes salary schedule improvements and Brockberg. “Each side had its wish list and we came together on an increases for weekend, holiday, and weekday call each of the agreement.” three years. Brockberg says the negotiating team accomplished a lot for “Our members supported the team,” said Bargaining Unit members, including a pay raise and lower insurance costs. Chair Cathy Blair. “We are far better off having the support and “Our insurance was terribly expensive,” she said. “No one protection of MNA. could afford the family plan. One nurse was going to quit because of the cost of health insurance.” Hennepin County Medical Center The team achieved members’ priorities through organizing RNs at Hennepin County Medical Cen- and solidarity actions. ter ratified a one-year contract on June 7. “I found we could be unified and work as one,” Brockberg said. The wage-only reopener increased “If you encourage nurses enough they’ll come out and support us. I salaries and narrowed the wage gap be- felt that this all brought nurses together and we worked as one. The HCMC nurses celebrate tween in-patient and ambulatory wage team listened to everyone’s concerns. And I think members believe 10 years as part of MNA scales. their union accomplished something for them.” This is the first contract after the addi- tion of visiting nurses last winter. “We’re pleased we made progress toward recognizing the value Regina Hospital of our ambulatory nurses,” said Bargaining Unit Co-Chair Sarah Si- MNA nurses at Regina Hospital in Hasting ratified a new mons. “The negotiating committee worked diligently to present three-year contract on June 16. the case for a wage increase.” Highlights of the new agreement include negotiating parity with Metro nurse wages and adding preceptor pay. FirstLight Health System, Mora “I’ve been negotiating 20 years, and we finally achieved MNA members at FirstLight Health System in Mora ratified a new Metro pay,” said Bargaining Unit Chair Jane Traynor. “We’ve been contract on August 22. The new contract includes increase in call pushing for Metro pay for years. Regina management finally rec- pay for the first time in nearly a decade, time for a union rep- ognized the need to have Metro wages and preceptor pay in or- resentative to meet with new hires during orientation, call pay der to recruit and retain nurses. We have a 21 percent turnover and charge pay increases, and the ability for MNA to appoint one rate right now.” member to the hospital’s workplace violence prevention committee. Traynor said nurse negotiators noticed a big difference be- 13 minnesota nursing accent

LABOR ADVOCACY tween negotiators from their hospital and negotiators from Allina concerns,” said MNA Essentia Twin Ports Co-Chair Steve Strand. headquarters. “Nurses believe the new contract helps ensure we can provide “Corporate is not as forthcoming,” she said. “Corporate Allina the care every patient needs and deserve – which is nurses’ top takes a very hard line compared to last time.” priority - and ensures they have insurance benefits that are se- Regina’s wages will be set after Metro Allina nurses settle cure and retain their voice in the workplace.” their contract. The new contract includes measures to improve staffing levels, address workplace violence, and various financial offsets Rice County Public Health to changes in health insurance. MNA members at Rice County Public Health spent time edu- Essentia proposed to eliminate all contractual protections cating the county administration and commissioners about what regarding health insurance and time off benefits and treat nurs- public health nurses and educators do to support the needs of es the same as non-union employees. The nurses’ unrelenting county residents as part of negotiating a new one-year contract calls for a fair contract ended with nurses keeping their hard- this August. fought contract language, including clauses requiring Essentia “Our Rice County team worked hard at bringing awareness to pay a percentage of the insurance premium and preventing and the concerns of our membership to management,” Bargain- Essentia from diminishing insurance benefits. ing Unit Co-Chair Tracy Ackman-Shaw said. “We explained our Although the nurses agreed to phase out one of their two roles and the challenges we face. For instance, there are risks contract health plans over time, nurses retained critical protec- each time a member makes a home visit. Nurses must make sure tions from future changes and saw economic gains in other ar- they’re in a safe environment at all times.” eas of the contract to offset any loss from the health insurance Ackman-Shaw said there is a turnover problem with public changes. health nurses and educators in Rice County because nurses are paid more in other places or there are better-paying non-nursing jobs in the community. GRIEVANCE Corner “We had a lot of concerns about keeping the nurses we have A selection of important grievances from around and making sure we have a strong contract to recruit the best possible staff to be part of our workforce,” said Ackman-Shaw. the state In the past months, two disciplinary grievances have reached “We said there’s demand for nurses everywhere – and told man- agement the issue needs to be taken seriously.” the arbitration level. Many other arbitration-level grievances re- The team was able to negotiate a wage increase, additional garding contracts are being processed, but are on hold due to the funds for health insurance, the addition of health educators as ongoing negotiations with Allina. part of the description in their contract, and a Memorandum of In one case, a nurse working for a state hospital had been Understanding that nurses and the county will review the job du- suspended and then terminated for two unrelated incidents. ties of nurses and health educators to see how their wages com- However, both the Board of Nursing and the Department of pare to other local employers. Health found no wrongdoing in her actions. As a result, not only did the case settle before the hearing, Essentia Twin Ports RNs finalize new contract but in a rare turn of events, the nurse was granted another posi- After five months of negoti- tion with the state. ations, a well-attended informa- While such a result is extremely unusual and should not be tional picket, march on the boss, expected at the arbitration stage, it does show how important newspaper columns, billboards the results of regulatory cases such as Board of Nursing hearings and more, MNA nurses who can be for the ultimate success of one’s grievance. work for Essentia Twin Ports hos- While we do not represent members in such hearings, we Essentia Twin Ports pitals ratified a new contract on strongly encourage nurses who may be confronting such a hear- negotiating team September 8. ing to acquire outside counsel. MNA maintains a list of recom- Nurses voted in favor of a mended counsel that may be obtained upon request. new three-year contract after reaching a tentative agreement The other grievance — the termination of a nurse —was with Essentia management on August 31. heard before Arbitrator Lundberg on August 27. Briefs have been “Nurses reached a fair agreement after five months of in- submitted and we are expecting a result by the end of Septem- tense negotiating and actions drawing public attention to our ber. Stay tuned! 14 minnesota nursing accent

Members in Action St. Peter nurses make the case for safe staffing with Governor Dayton MNA nurses at the Minneso- ta Security Hospital in St. Peter are not giving up on their campaign for safe staffing. They lobbied legislators at the Capitol this spring for funding to improve safety by increasing staff- MNA members Bob Kucera, Kava Zabawa, MNA President Mary Turner, ing at their hospital - and made a and Qamar Hassan advocate for ESST in St. Paul. difference. ESST makes progress in “It was quite the ride,” said Lori Olson, chair of the MNA State MNA nurse Elizabeth Employees Bargaining Unit. “We Liebenstein with Governor Minnesota Dayton during his visit in August Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) ordinances are taking root went to the Capitol and got seats in Minnesota, helped along by MNA nurse activists working in on the floor during session. We let people know we need more staff and funding.” coalition with progressive allied organizations. Olson and other members texted some legislators, explain- “Nurses see the impact of patients without paid sick leave ing why the funding is needed. every day,” MNA President Mary Turner said. “People delay “It was very effective to have us among them as they had seeking medical attention because they can’t get paid time off, to make tough decisions,” Olson said. “It was the first time I was meaning they are sicker and could expose people to diseases.” involved in lobbying. I’ve talked to elected officials before, but Minneapolis passed an ordinance requiring businesses to never went to the Capitol and sat in on a session.” provide paid sick and safe time to employees in June. Once the The Legislature adjourned without adding the funding to ordinance takes effect on July 1, 2017, employees can use paid the Department of Health and Human Services budget. sick or safe time to take care of themselves or their extended Nurses continued to push for staffing throughout the sum- families, for preventive care, physical or mental healthcare, or mer, urging Governor Dayton to call a special legislative session. needs related to domestic violence or sexual assault. In August, the governor announced he would not call a special MNA nurses were closely involved in advocating for the session. new ordinance and making sure it protects all nurses, including Nurses met with the governor and legislative leaders when casuals who were initially exempt. they visited St. Peter this summer. St. Paul’s City Council passed a similar ESST ordinance in “The governor and Speaker Kurt Daudt met with staff from September, after a task force co-chaired by MNA Executive Di- our facility and appeared interested in what all the staff had to say about the need for additional funds for construction as well rector Rose Roach recommended an ESST ordinance for that as the need for increased staffing,” said MNA nurse Elizabeth city. Liebenstein. “Speaker Daudt verbalized support for our facility, The Duluth City Council is planning to form a task force to but stated that although he may see the need, he would have to study the issue and make recommendations. convince others at the Capitol. We will continue next legislative MNA is working to make sure nurses are involved at all lev- session to request funds for improvements for our facility. The els of this important public health policy because no one should needs at the Minnesota Security Hospital are a state issue, as have to choose between their paycheck or getting well. we serve Minnesotans from all over the state.” 15 minnesota nursing accent

MNA member is outstanding New insurance benefit just student for MNA members MNA member Rasmita Shres- tha was named Outstanding Grad- uate Student at Metropolitan State University’s School of Nursing this spring. Shrestha, RN, who works at Ab- bott Northwestern Hospital in Min- neapolis, earned her Doctorate of Nursing in May. Her capstone project involved developing a client-centered ap- Rasmita Shrestha proach to increase annual cervical cancer screenings among HIV-infected women in an urban HIV clinic. Help protect your family and yourself with new benefits “They tried interventions in the past, so they wanted an ev- exclusively for MNA members and dependents from Guard- idence-based approach to see what works best,” Shrestha said. ian. MNA has teamed up with Guardian to provide members “I reviewed the literature, found out what interventions were with voluntary insurance policies for life insurance, critical ill- effective for that population, and implemented the strategy ness and accidents. last summer. We did see an increase in the screening rate over Term Life Insurance - Life insurance provides a financial the previous summer. I found it was a challenge to implement benefit that your family can depend on. And getting it through what’s effective and adapt for clinical practice.” the MNA program is easier, more convenient and more afford- Shrestha, who moved to Minnesota from Nepal in 2005, able than doing it on your own. not only works at Abbott Northwestern, but is an active com- Critical Illness - When you or a family member suffers a munity volunteer. serious illness like a stroke or heart attack, Critical Illness Insur- She is very active in community service in spite of the de- ance can help with expenses that medical insurance doesn’t mands of a job, school, and a baby born in April. cover like deductibles or out-of-pocket costs, or services like She volunteered in Metropolitan State University’s simula- experimental treatment. tion lab, where she earned a “Woman’s Club of Minneapolis” Accident - If you were injured from an accident, chanc- es are you will have expenses that you were not anticipating scholarship; and organized a fundraiser for victims of the earth- will you be prepared? Accident Insurance can help you deal quake in Nepal. She also assists at Feed My Starving Children with those expenses. Benefit payments can help you with and is trained to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. your medical deductibles and co-pays, and cover household “I like to get involved in the community,” she said. “Minne- expenses like groceries, mortgage payments and childcare, sota has given me a lot so I want to give back.” which can begin to pile up if you have to take some time off She also hopes to return to Nepal and share her nursing from work. skills. These products will be available starting Oct. 1 (http:// “In Nepal, preventive care is secondary to emergency care. mnnurses.memberbenefits.com/) I’m hoping to do something there,” she said. Contact Al Winters at [email protected], 715-392-1294 (office) or 218-390-7877 (cell) to learn more and how it compares to programs you already have at work. 16 minnesota nursing accent

Health and Safety Committee Update By MNA Health and Safety Committee member Naomi English, RN the number and severity of assaults. As the MNA Health and Safety Committee continues to It seems that much of the interventions that will manage study and discuss how to ensure Minnesota’s new Workplace this problem have yet to be put together. This problem has Violence Prevention law does what it’s supposed to, one idea to be examined in a broad way: changes in hospital and work keeps coming up: hospital health and safety committees. area design, increases in security personnel and locked access These committees would address and make recommen- areas, as well as increases in RN and other healthcare workers’ dations on important safety issues, including dealing with in- staffing may well be useful. fectious diseases, patient lifting and moving, assaults against All in all, there is a lot of work for health and safety com- healthcare workers, and other major causes of workplace in- mittees to do. juries and illnesses. Infectious diseases. As the Zika virus, Ebola, and H1N1 have demonstrated, there are new, emerging infections that hospitals are not adequately prepared to fight. Also, there are more types of drug-resistant organisms than there have ever been. Save the Date The work of a health and safety committee in our hospi- tals would be to closely follow CDC bulletins, directives and MNA Nurses Day on the Hill guidelines, and meet frequently with management to ensure Feb. 13 – Feb. 14 that all necessary measures to protect employees are being Intercontinental Saint Paul Riverfront taken. Safe Patient Lifting and Moving. RNs and nursing assis- Watch for details coming soon! tants continue to be at great risk for musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries. In fact, MSKs accounted for 39 percent of the total number of injuries and illnesses reported to the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health’s Survey of Occupational Inju- MNA history corner ries and Illnesses (SOII) in the Healthcare industry in 2014. An effective health and safety committee would advo- cate for the purchase of more safe patient lifting and moving equipment and then recommend and, perhaps, develop train- ing programs to encourage our colleagues and coworkers to consistently use the equipment. Assaults against healthcare workers. These attacks have been increasing in frequency and severity for several years. 1984: MNA nurses’ 39-day strike is The interventions that will effectively reduce the incidence of largest nurses strike in U.S. history these assaults are still being developed. More than 6,300 MNA nurses picketed Twin Cities hospitals Nurses are attending Code Green and RPR and de-escala- for 39 days in 1984. It was the largest nurses’ strike in U.S. history tion classes. Security personnel in many hospitals now carry up to that time. Tasers. These classes bring to mind the Body Mechanics class- Nurses went on strike over patient and nursing profession es that many of us took during the 1970s and 1980s. issues, including protecting nurses’ roles and recognizing nurses’ Once safe patient moving and lifting equipment was be- contributions to patient care in the face of hospital cost contain- ing widely used, there was no need for the much less useful ment measures; protecting nurses’ rights and benefits as hospi- Body Mechanics classes. Similarly, health and safety commit- tals went through restructuring; layoffs, reductions, and staffing tees can help develop more effective interventions to reduce adjustments; and improvements in wages and benefits. 17 minnesota nursing accent

Vote nurses’ values from page 4 In addition to election activities, you can attend educa- tion sessions on our critical issues, set MNA’s course for the NE next year – and have fun! Come to the Honors and Awards GI Banquet where we recognize some of our many outstand- A

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ing members, enjoy the entertainment, and take advan- I tage of the opportunity to talk to dozens of your MNA col- leagues from throughout Minnesota. CARN If you have never been to an MNA Convention, this is where all the rules and bylaws, political platforms, and ma- jor decisions about our union are made by you - the mem- bers. Retiree, young nurse groups gear up For more information about Convention, see page 5 Plans to increase the involvement of nurses at the end and the special insert in the Summer 2016 Accent. and beginning of their careers are moving ahead. I encourage all nurses who can get the time off to join Retired MNA members will take proposed bylaw me at my first Convention as President. All political views changes to the House of Delegates in October. The changes are highly encouraged! would officially create the Council of Active Retired Nurses (CARN) and set up a structure for the new group. Politics and collective bargaining from page 2 Retirees have been gathering to plan their new group tive bargaining rights for public employees. Because MNA and for many months and are excited to move forward and be- others had helped to elect labor-friendly legislators, the author gin implementing their ideas. did not have enough votes to pass the bill, leaving current col- If you’re interested in getting involved, contact Saman- lective bargaining rights in place. tha Riazi at (651) 414-2885, (800) 536-4662, ext. 185, or MNA and other unions have regularly fought off proposed [email protected]. Right-to-Work bills over the years. The Young Nurse Network is reaching out to members On top of the importance of voting for or against a particu- and planning events for the fall. lar candidate, helping those candidates win their seats is equally Contact Eileen Gavin at (651) 414-2871 or Eileen. important. Whether it’s spending an hour door knocking or an [email protected] if you are interested in joining or to afternoon making phone calls, every bit helps strengthen the find out about future events to network with your peers. relationship we have with people already in office and helps to ensure that nurse-friendly candidates are elected. Please visit www.mnnurses.org/issues-advocacy/elec- Upcoming MNA meetings and events tions/endorsements/ or check out the Legislative Scorecard MNA Board of Directors meetings: insert in this issue of Accent for more information on who has November 16 been supportive of nursing and labor issues at the Capitol. December 14 Governmental Affairs Commission: October 26 November 23 December 28 Nursing Practice & Education Commission: November 17 Meetings are open to all MNA members to attend and they can RSVP to Julie Kinsel if they plan to attend. MNA Convention and House of Delegates: Oct. 9-11, Radisson Blu, Bloomington 18 minnesota nursing accent

Nurse Practice and Education Commission Update By Trilby White, RN, BSN, St. John’s Hospital, Maplewood I chose the nursing profession after running a successful is today. Not only for the nurses who work at Allina Health, but business for 20 years. I decided to go back to school, and work for all MNA nurses and their patients. night and day as an aide at the same time. Every day I witnessed Nurses have committed their lives’ work to their patients deeply committed nurses whose most important goal in life was and families, as well as that of our colleagues and healthcare sys- providing safe, competent, and compassionate care to our pa- tems. tients. Today I could not be more proud to work alongside the Our practice puts us at increased risk for severe, acute, and most engaged and committed nurses I’ve ever had the privilege chronic injuries. The risks to life and limb are commensurate to know. with those of firefighters and police. Working day to day, nurses face some of the most difficult The need for routine health screening and maintenance for and challenging circumstances. Beyond the needs of patients, nurses could not be more important. The personal health of nurses strive to address and advocate for the important needs nurses is directly linked to patient safety and positive outcomes of patients and their families. Whether it is emotional, financial for our patients and that of our colleagues. Nursing health and and/or cultural, our fellow MNA nurses throw themselves into security are central to the positive outcomes we all strive for. complex and difficult situations at a moments notice regardless These issues are clearly and inextricably linked. Allina’s com- of the risks, both physically and professionally. mitment to patients should be equal to that of the health and I am writing this only a few hours after my sisters and broth- security of their nursing staff. ers in the Twin Cities voted to reject Allina’s proposal to eliminate By taking a stand on safe patient ratios, 24/7 security needs, the MNA health insurance plans. MNA brothers and sisters have and healthcare insurance, MNA nurses are striving to protect all been forced to jeopardize their personal well-being, and that of nurses who serve in an extremely dangerous and high risk envi- their families, to stand up for the rights of our coworkers, our ronment. patients, and our families. Let’s all roll up our sleeves and make sure we put our Allina We’ve all heard that “all boats rise with the tide,” and the RNs at the top of our personal care plans as they work through meaning of those words has never been more important than it this difficult and troubling time! State fairgoers support MNA nurses Minnesotans overwhelmingly support MNA nurses who work for metro Allina hospitals, if reaction at the 2016 State Fair is any indication. Fairgoers signed nearly 4,000 postcards - a stack five feet tall – to send to Allina Health telling them to give nurses good healthcare. MNA nurses, joined by other unions, announced the ten- day notice of an Unfair Labor Practice strike during a news con- ference at the State Fair. 19 minnesota nursing accent

MNA nurses’ strike stands up to corporate greed Taking a stand for workers everywhere, MNA nurses went out on a second Unfair Labor Practice strike against Allina Health in the Twin Cities on Sept. 5. Negotiations broke down Saturday, September 3, after a 22- hour marathon session when Allina negotiators left the bargain- ing table after nurses submitted their last proposal. Allina hasn’t responded to a request to return to the negotiating table made that day. Nurses and supporters from other unions and the commu- nity at large have filled the picket lines at Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, Phillips Eye Institute, United, and Unity hospitals every day, even during extreme heat and storms. Nurses have been fighting for safe staffing and workplace vi- olence language in their contracts, but management has insisted nurses give up their health insurance plans and take more expen- sive, corporate plans before negotiating other issues. It’s become apparent over the weeks since the strike began that Allina is not interested in negotiating a fair contract. Allina is attempting to silence the voice of nurses and break our unions. MNA nurses are standing strong for their contract and all union members. Achieving our goals will show that unions are strong and discourage other employers from trying to dismantle their unions. Our union brothers and sisters, along with community sup- porters, have shown overwhelming support for striking nurses with donations to the strike fund, fundraisers, bringing food to the strike lines, and joining nurses on the picket lines. The strike was continuing when this edition of Accent went to print. Visit MNA’s website at www.mnnurses.org and Facebook for updates. 345 Randolph Ave., Ste. 200 St. Paul, MN 55102

VOTE caring • compassion • community

N U S E R CONVENTION 2016 S LU ES’ VA 2016 MNA Convention and House of Delegates October 9-11, 2016 Radisson Blu Mall of America, Bloomington Vote Nurses’ Values: Caring, Compassion, Community

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