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Nurses and supporters gathered Wednesday at a Minneapolis park for a solidarity rally before Monday’s scheduled strike by 4,800 nurses against five Allina Health facilities.
The unfair labor practice strike is set to start at 7 a.m. Monday, Labor Day. Picketing will take place around Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, Phillips Eye Institute, United, and Unity hospitals as well as Allina’s headquarters, the Minnesota Nurses Association said.
“This is an open-ended strike,” said Rose Roach, MNA executive director. “These nurses have never felt more disrespected and more devalued by this employer in their entire careers. They are mad.”
Nurses have been in talks with Allina Health since February. Hospital negotiators would not offer new proposals or address outstanding nurse proposals without demanding concessions on nurses’ health insurance plans, the union said.
Several unions, including Education Minnesota, AFSCME, SEIU and the United Steelworkers, announced last week that they would picket with nurses in the event of a walkout.