About 1,350 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association are on the picketline, after rejecting a contract with Fairview-Riverside and Fairview-Southdale hospitals.
The walkout began at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, the union announced. Picketing will continue from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily until a settlement is reached. Members said they rejected the contract Saturday because the provisions for wages, health insurance and patient care were inadequate.
Nurses at other hospitals ratified agreements over the weekend. Results were still pending on a vote Sunday by nurses at Methodist Hospital.
Here is the status at each facility, according to the MNA:
- Children's Hospitals and Clinics, St. Paul campus: Approved new contract June 1. No strike.
- Children's Hospitals and Clinics, Minneapolis campus: Approved new contract June 1. No strike.
- United Hospital, St. Paul: Approved new contract June 2. No strike.
- St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Paul: A three-year contract was approved by nurses late Thursday, averting a strike.
- Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital, St. Paul: A three-year contract was approved by nurses late Thursday, averting a strike.
- St. John's Hospital, Maplewood: A three-year contract was approved by nurses late Thursday, averting a strike.
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis: Approved new contract June 2. No strike.
- Phillips Eye Institute, Minneapolis: Approved new contract June 2. No strike.
- Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids: Approved new contract June 2. No strike.
- Fairview-University Medical Center, Riverside campus: Voted to reject the current tentative agreement on June 2, and began a strike against Fairview Riverside at 5:30 am on June 3.
- Fairview Southdale Hospital, Edina: Voted to reject the current tentative agreement on June 2, and began a strike against Fairview Southdale at 5:30 am on June 3.
- Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park: Will vote on a contract proposal Sunday. Strike deadline 5:30 a.m. Monday.
- North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale: Approved new contract May 17. No strike.
-Twin Cities Pension Plan: Approved on May 17, 2001.
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For more information and bargaining updates
Visit the Minnesota Nurses Association website: http://www.mnnurses.org