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Minneapolis Labor Review Striking Minnesota nurses are waging a fight for all workers— page 2 MinneapolisMinneapolis LaborLabor ReviewReview 109th Year No. 5 September 30, 2016 www.minneapolisunions.org Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Mediator calls nurses, Allina back to negotiations By Steve Share, Fridley. Labor Review editor The nurses originally said the MINNEAPOLIS — As week strike was about preserving four of a strike by nearly 5,000 health insurance benefits and Twin Cities area nurses ap- winning improved job safety — proached, a mediator summoned but, as the strike continued into a Allina Health and the Minnesota third week, a larger concern had Nurses Association back to the emerged. bargaining table for the first time “Allina has made it very clear since September 3. to us that this strike isn’t about Laurie Pryor The news came late on Sep- health insurance or pay. They tember 23 (the day the Labor are intent on breaking our Minnesota House Review went to press) that the union,” said Mary Turner, MNA District 48A mediator had called a negotia- president. “Nurses know that not tion session for September 27. only is their contract and their MRLF targets five races September 27 was the same For more photos and video from this event: union at stake, the whole labor for Minnesota House day that the Minnesota Nurses facebook.com/minneapolisunions movement is watching. An Alli- See pages 6-7 Association had planned an ac- na victory would embolden em- tion at the annual stockholders Seven busloads of AFSCME Council 5 members —in green —joined ployers in all of our industries to Labor news meeting of General Mills, whose striking MNA members —in red —on the picket line at Abbott North- escalate their union-busting tac- executive vice president, John western Hospital September 23. Later that evening, a mediator an- tics, and put at risk all that the updated daily Church, is chair of the Allina nounced resumed negotiations between MNA and Allina Health. labor movement has earned.” www.workdayminnesota.org Health board of directors. The local labor movement The planned action at Gener- board of directors (see story, United Hospital in St. Paul, Ab- has rallied in support of the Minneapolis Regional al Mills was part of a continuing page 4). bott Northwestern Hospital and striking nurses, donating to a Labor Federation… series of MNA actions targeting The nurses went on strike on Phillips Eye Institute in Minne- strike fund and joining nurses on Follow us on facebook! the offices or retail establish- September 5 — Labor Day — at apolis, Mercy Hospital in Coon the picket line. www.facebook.com/minneapolisunions ments of members of the Allina five Allina Health facilities: Rapids, and Unity Hospital in NURSES page 4 AFSCME president Saunders: Trump is a ‘fraud’ By Steve Share, and backed “Right to Work” about the coming presidential Labor Review editor laws. “There were too many election. “Sisters and brothers BLOOMINGTON — Lee people who became compla- elections matter… and this one Saunders, AFSCME’s national cent… who didn’t bother to really matters.” president, posed a question to vote,” Saunders answered — in- “Donald Trump thinks we the AFSCME Council 5 conven- cluding many union members. make America great by busting tion in Bloomington September “It didn’t happen in Minne- unions and attacking union 22. “How did we end up with a sota,” he noted, where Governor members,” Saunders warned. Walker, a Kasich, a Snyder, a Mark Dayton has won two “Do we want a President who Rauner?” These governors of terms. “We see the difference will empower working people Midwestern states elected in re- every day,” Saunders said. — or exploit them?” he asked. Statewide cent years have attacked unions Saunders expressed alarm SAUNDERS page 4 Days of Action MRLF plans more opportunities to phone bank, doorknock MINNEAPOLIS — The 312 Central Ave. Minneapolis, ery Sunday in October from 10 Saturday, Minneapolis Regional Labor to phone bank or doorknock be- a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Come to Room October 1 Federation’s Labor 2016 politi- tween 3:00-9:00 p.m. 490 of the United Labor Centre cal effort has moved into full In addition, the MRLF seeks — and bring a friend or two! swing. Opportunities now are volunteers to participate in two The MRLF encourages union Saturday, available to volunteer to phone- statewide “Days of Action” Sat- locals to sign-up for a shift. October 15 bank or doorknock almost every urday, October 1 and Saturday, To volunteer or for more de- day of the week. October 15 (see page 3 for de- tails, contact Casey Hudek, Volunteers needed! Monday through Thursdays tails). MRLF campaigns manager, at volunteers can come to Room Phone banks and doorknock- 612-913-6743 or e-mail casey@ See page 3 490 of the United Labor Centre, ing also will be taking place ev- minneapolisunions.org. Striking Minnesota nurses are waging a fight for all workers By Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President, health was a top priority. But Allina advo- Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation cated for some of their workforce to be ex- Nearly 5,000 nurses went on strike on cluded from the ordinance. And the Allina Labor Day to fight for a voice in the work- representative didn’t even vote for the com- place while one of the region’s largest em- mon sense proposal that came out of the ployers, Allina Health, is using corporate city’s earned sick time workgroup. tactics to try to break the union. Every member of the task- The nurses — members of force, including numerous the Minnesota Nurses Associa- business owners, voted in favor tion — not only are advocating of the taskforce recommenda- for a fair contract for them- tions, except for two — the rep- selves but also to keep access to resentatives from the Chamber quality healthcare as a right for of Commerce and from Allina. all workers. We know that this historic In our changing economy, strike is not just about Allina’s maintaining quality employ- nurses receiving quality care. er-provided health benefits is This struggle is part of a broad- particularly difficult as overall union densi- er attack on workplace standards — and it’s MRLF makes four additional endorsements in ty continues to decline and the emerging particularly shameful that a non-profit hos- sub-contracted “gig economy” continues to pital would be advocating against the health suburban races for city council, school board grow. interests of its employees and its patients. MINNEAPOLIS — Delegates to the nior policy aide for Ward 5 Minneapolis But our nurses and the broader labor We know that Allina is not alone in the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, city council member Blong Yang. movement in Minnesota know that the race quest to lower workplace standards. The AFL-CIO voted September 14 to ap- Candidate website: seanbroom.com. to the bottom is not going to sustain our corporate elite is waging a concerted effort prove four additional endorsements in Robbinsdale School Board: families — and we all need to hold Allina to continue to drive down costs — purely to local suburban races for city council and Helen Bassett, At Large Health accountable for their actions. benefit their profits and their portfolios. school board seats. Longtime incumbent Helen Bassett is This issue of the Labor Review went to No coincidence, the same board mem- The MRLF endorsement is the seeking re-election as At Large member press September 23, as week four of the bers who sit on Allina Health’s board of di- AFL-CIO endorsement for local races. of the Robbinsdale School Board. First nurses’ open-ended strike approached. rectors are part of an elite group of corpo- The MRLF endorsed Sean Broom for appointed to the Robbinsdale School We have seen an amazing amount of rate leaders waging lock-outs, paying Columbia Heights City Council At- Board in 2002, Bassett since then has solidarity across the local labor movement. poverty wages, lowering employee bene- Large, Julia Stevens for Coon Rapids won election to three four-year terms. From the picket lines, to donated gift cards, fits, profiteering off a broken healthcare City Council Ward 1, Bob Barnette for Bassett has lived in the Robbins-dale donations to a strike solidarity fund, and system, and opposing workplace fairness at Fridley City Council At Large, and Helen school district for 33 years. food contributions, union members and our every step of the way. Bassett for Robbinsdale School Board At A management analyst for the Minne- community are showing up for the nurses. Together, we can stand up to Allina. To- Large. All four candidates are current or sota Department of Public Safety, Bas- This strike not only is galvanizing the gether we can stand up to the corporate former union members. sett has been a member of the Minnesota local labor movement to act in support of leaders. And together we can fight for jobs Columbia Heights City Council: Association of Public Employees since the nurses, but it also is shining a light on that provide family-sustaining wages and Sean Broom, At Large 2002. the immense importance of continuing to the dignity of basic healthcare benefits. Sean Broom led a field of eight candi- Website: hjbassett.wixsite.com/428. organize deep and wide in the growing The nurses’ fight is your fight, too: I dates in the primary election for two at Coon Rapids City Council: healthcare industry. This means organizing urge you to take part of a day to walk in large seats on the Columbia Heights City Julia Stevens, Ward 1 up and down the supply chain and in the solidarity with the nurses on the strike Council.
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